Translation guide
The English word "convention" covers several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical categories for Japanese learners.
A large meeting of people with a shared interest, often professional or fan-based.
General term for a large meeting, convention, or tournament. Commonly used for academic conferences, sports meets, and fan conventions.
Next month, there will be an international academic convention in Tokyo.
I'm looking forward to attending the anime convention.
Loanword from English, often used for business or industry conventions, or large fan events. Sounds more modern or international.
A business convention will be held in Osaka next week.
A gathering or assembly, often for a specific purpose like a political rally or community meeting. Less common for large commercial conventions.
A citizens' convention was held in front of the city hall.
A way of behaving that is considered correct or polite in a society.
Custom or conventional practice. Refers to long-standing social habits.
In Japan, it is a convention to bow.
Traditional custom or convention, often with a sense of formality or ritual. Used for weddings, ceremonies, etc.
Precedent or customary practice, often in formal or business settings.
Also used for social conventions, but less common than 慣習. Often appears in academic or translated texts.
A traditional or widely accepted way of doing something, especially in arts, literature, or games.
Conventional practice or precedent. Used for artistic or procedural conventions.
This novel breaks literary conventions.
Colloquial term for a predictable pattern or trope, especially in manga, anime, or drama. Implies a cliché or expected development.
Established pattern or standard move, originally from board games like Go. Used metaphorically for any conventional wisdom.
An official agreement between countries or groups.
Treaty or convention between nations. The standard term for international agreements.
The Geneva Convention establishes rules of war.
Agreement or pact, often less formal than a treaty. Used for bilateral or economic conventions.
慣習 is the broadest term for social customs. しきたり implies traditional, often ceremonial conventions. 慣例 is used for established practices in organizations or procedures.
While コンベンション is understood, 大会 is more natural for most events. Using コンベンション for small meetings sounds odd.
You should follow the conventions of that region.
結婚式のしきたりは地域によって違います。
Wedding conventions differ by region.
慣例に従って、会議は午前中に開かれた。
According to convention, the meeting was held in the morning.
We are bound by social conventions.
そのアニメはお約束の展開だった。
That anime followed the usual conventions.
ビジネスにおける定石を学ぶ。
Learn the conventions of business.
二国間の通商協定が結ばれた。
A bilateral trade convention was concluded.