Translation guide
The English word "degree" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: academic qualification, extent/level, unit of measurement for angles and temperature, and a few other uses. Each meaning is explained with natural Japanese expressions.
Referring to a university degree (bachelor's, master's, etc.)
The standard term for an academic degree. Used in formal contexts.
He has a degree in economics.
How many years does it take to get a degree?
Specifically a bachelor's degree. Use 修士号 (しゅうしごう) for master's and 博士号 (はくしごう) for doctorate.
She just got her bachelor's degree.
Abbreviation for 大学卒業 (university graduation). Often used in contexts like '大卒以上' (college graduate or above).
This job requires a college degree or higher.
Expressing the amount, intensity, or degree of something
The most common word for 'degree' as in extent or level. Used in many contexts.
A certain degree of experience is necessary.
A mistake of this degree is not a problem.
Similar to 程度, but often implies a more measurable or observable degree. Slightly more formal.
Used in patterns like ～ほど (to the degree that) or ～のほど (extent of). Often in set phrases.
Nominalizer that turns adjectives into nouns expressing degree (e.g., 高さ = height/degree of tallness).
I was surprised at the degree of difficulty of the problem.
Referring to degrees of an angle
The counter for degrees of an angle. Simply attach to a number.
A right angle is 90 degrees.
Please rotate 180 degrees.
Referring to degrees of temperature
The counter for temperature degrees. Used with Celsius (摂氏, せっし) or Fahrenheit (華氏, かし).
Today's temperature exceeded 30 degrees.
Water boils at 100 degrees.
Expressing 'to some degree' or 'to a certain extent'
Referring to the closeness of a relationship or steps in kinship
Legal term for degree of kinship. Rare in daily conversation.
Since he is my cousin, he is a relative of the fourth degree.
Referring to the degree of comparison (positive, comparative, superlative)
Used in linguistics. 原級 (positive degree), 比較級 (comparative degree), 最上級 (superlative degree).
English adjectives have comparative and superlative degrees.
Both mean 'degree/extent', but 程度 is more common and general. 度合い often implies a measurable or observable degree and is slightly more formal. In many cases they are interchangeable.
Investigate the degree of damage.
Investigate the extent of damage.
度 (ど) is the counter for degrees (angle/temperature). 度 (たび) means 'time/occasion'. They are different words.
Thank you for this occasion. (NOT 'degree')
He earned a degree in physics.
To what degree can we trust this data?
The temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees.
The response changes depending on the degree of danger.
He grew at a surprising degree of speed.
I apologize for the degree of inconvenience caused.
I'm prepared for a certain degree of risk.
A certain degree of error is acceptable.