Translation guide
How to express 'delete' in Japanese, covering digital deletion, physical removal, and crossing out text.
To remove digital content such as files, emails, or text.
The most common and neutral term for deleting digital data, files, or messages. Used in software menus and everyday speech.
Is it okay to delete this file?
I deleted the email.
A casual, everyday verb meaning 'to erase' or 'to delete'. Commonly used for deleting text, messages, or files in informal contexts.
Loanword from English, used in some technical or gaming contexts. Less common than 削除する.
Please delete that record.
To physically remove something, such as wiping off a whiteboard or erasing a mark.
General verb for erasing or removing physical marks, such as pencil lines, whiteboard writing, or stains.
Please erase the writing on the blackboard.
It's hard to remove this stain.
Means 'to remove' or 'to eliminate' something unwanted. More formal and often used for abstract or physical removal.
To draw a line through written text to indicate deletion or correction.
削除する is the standard term for digital deletion (files, data). 消す is more casual and can be used for both digital and physical erasure. In formal or technical contexts, prefer 削除する.
delete data
While デリート is understood in some IT contexts, it sounds unnatural in most situations. Use 削除する or 消す instead.
I accidentally deleted that message.
Don't delete the photos.
Please delete the unnecessary parts.
I crossed out that word.