Translation guide
The English word "dash" covers several distinct meanings: a quick run, a small amount, a punctuation mark, a sudden movement, and more. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression for each situation.
To run or move quickly for a short distance.
A loanword from English, commonly used in sports, games, and casual speech for a short, fast run.
He dashed toward the goal.
A more formal or literary term meaning 'full-speed sprint'. Used in descriptive writing or formal contexts.
The athletes dashed around the stadium at full speed.
A general phrase meaning 'to run in a hurry'. It conveys the sense of dashing without the sporty nuance of ダッシュ.
I almost missed the bus, so I dashed.
A small quantity of something, often a liquid or seasoning.
A neutral word meaning 'small amount'. Used in recipes and everyday language.
Add a dash of salt.
Literally 'a pinch'. Commonly used for salt, sugar, etc. in cooking.
A formal or polite way to say 'a little', often used in written recipes or instructions.
The dash symbol (—) used in writing.
To move suddenly or quickly in a particular direction.
A stylish, energetic quality; panache.
A traditional Japanese aesthetic concept meaning 'chic', 'stylish', or 'cool'. It conveys a sense of refined, understated flair.
His style always has a certain dash.
A loanword meaning 'sense' or 'taste'. Often used to describe someone's stylishness or flair.
To ruin or destroy something, especially hopes or plans.
In English, 'a dash of salt' is idiomatic. In Japanese, do not use ダッシュ for this meaning. Use 少量, ひとつまみ, or 少々 instead.
Add a dash of salt.
ダッシュ is a casual, everyday word for a short sprint, while 全力疾走 is more formal and emphasizes running at full speed. Use ダッシュ in conversation and 全力疾走 in writing or formal descriptions.
He made a dash for the door.
Add a dash of soy sauce.
The 100-meter dash is his best event.
Add a dash of sugar.
こしょうを少々ふりかける。
Sprinkle a dash of pepper.
A technical term for the dash as a phonetic symbol (e.g., in katakana words). Rarely used in everyday conversation.
The dash is often seen in katakana words.
She has a dash of style.