Translation guide
The English word 'cumulative' describes something that increases or builds up over time through successive additions. This guide helps learners express this idea naturally in Japanese, covering common patterns for accumulation, gradual increase, and total effects.
Describing something that grows or builds up as more is added, such as effects, totals, or knowledge.
The cumulative effect became apparent.
Literally 'to pile up', this verb conveys the idea of things accumulating layer by layer. It is natural for both concrete and abstract accumulation, such as experience or small efforts.
Small efforts accumulated and led to a big result.
Means 'to accumulate' or 'to store up', often used for knowledge, wealth, or resources. Slightly more formal than 積み重なる.
The accumulation of knowledge is important.
A noun meaning 'accumulation' or 'pile-up', often used in phrases like 努力の積み重ね (accumulation of effort).
Success is the accumulation of effort.
An adjective meaning 'cumulative', used in technical or academic writing. Less common in everyday speech.
Cumulative damage is the problem.
Referring to the final sum or aggregate result, such as a cumulative score or total.
A noun meaning 'cumulative total' or 'running total', commonly used in statistics, finance, and reports.
The cumulative sales exceeded one million units.
Means 'total' or 'sum'. While not exclusively 'cumulative', it is often used when adding up all parts. More general than 累計.
Used for totals over a period, such as career statistics. Common in sports and records.
Describing how something becomes stronger or more significant over time, like cumulative stress or fatigue.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to take effect gradually' or 'to have a creeping effect'. Conveys the sense of cumulative impact in a natural, spoken way.
The cumulative fatigue is starting to get to me.
Literally 'gradually accumulate', this phrase is more formal and suitable for written descriptions of cumulative effects.
While 累積的 is a direct translation, it sounds technical and stiff in everyday conversation. Use more natural expressions like 積み重なる or じわじわと効いてくる depending on context.
累計 emphasizes the running total over time, while 合計 is a simple sum. Use 累計 when the accumulation process is important, such as in 'cumulative sales'.
合計点で勝敗が決まる。
The winner is decided by the cumulative score.
通算1000安打を達成した。
He achieved a cumulative total of 1000 hits.
Stress accumulates gradually.