Translation guide
The English verb "compose" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: creating music or writing, forming or constituting something, and calming oneself. It also touches on typesetting and arranging visual elements.
To create a piece of music, a poem, a letter, or a formal written work.
Specifically for composing music. Use this when creating a musical piece.
彼は新しい曲を作曲した。
He composed a new song.
For writing lyrics. Use this when composing the words to a song.
彼女はその歌の作詞をした。
She composed the lyrics for that song.
General verb for writing. Can be used for composing letters, essays, poems, etc. Less formal than 執筆する.
手紙を書くのに一時間かかった。
It took me an hour to compose the letter.
Formal term for writing, especially for articles, books, or scholarly works. Implies careful composition.
彼は新聞の記事を執筆している。
He is composing a newspaper article.
Very general verb meaning 'to make'. Can be used for creating poems, songs, etc., but is less specific than 作曲する or 作詞する.
To be the parts or members that form something; to make up a whole.
Standard term for 'to compose' in the sense of forming a whole from parts. Used for committees, teams, systems, etc.
委員会は10人のメンバーで構成されている。
The committee is composed of ten members.
Often used in the pattern ～から成る to mean 'consist of' or 'be composed of'. More common in written or formal contexts.
水は水素と酸素から成る。
Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
To form or shape something. Can be used for abstract things like character or opinion, as well as physical structures.
これらの要素が全体を形成している。
These elements compose the whole.
To make oneself calm or tranquil after being upset or agitated.
Common phrase meaning 'to calm oneself down'. Often used when trying to regain composure.
彼女は深呼吸して気を落ち着けた。
She took a deep breath and composed herself.
Literally 'to quiet one's heart/mind'. A more introspective way to say 'compose oneself'.
彼は心を静めてから話し始めた。
He composed himself and then began to speak.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to calm down' or 'to become composed'. Can be used for oneself or a situation.
To arrange text, images, or other elements in a deliberate visual layout.
Technical term for typesetting or composing type for printing.
印刷所でページを組版する。
They compose the pages at the printing house.
Loanword from English 'layout'. Used for arranging elements in design, publishing, and web contexts.
雑誌のページをレイアウトする。
I compose the layout of the magazine pages.
Also used for visual composition, especially in art and photography, meaning to arrange elements within a frame.
写真の構図を構成する。
To compose the shot (photography).
作曲する is for composing the music (melody, harmony), while 作詞する is for writing the lyrics. If you do both, you can say 作詞作曲する.
作曲する only applies to music. For writing a poem, letter, or essay, use 書く or 執筆する. Using 作曲する for non-musical writing is incorrect.
落ち着く is intransitive (to become calm), while 気を落ち着ける is transitive (to calm oneself). Use 気を落ち着ける when you actively try to compose yourself.
彼女は美しい交響曲を作曲した。
She composed a beautiful symphony.
そのチームは様々な分野の専門家で構成されている。
The team is composed of experts from various fields.
彼はスピーチの前に、少し時間を取って気を落ち着けた。
He took a moment to compose himself before the speech.
I like to compose poems.
少し時間を置いて、落ち着いた。
I waited a while and composed myself.