Translation guide
The English word "digest" has two main meanings: to process food in the body, and to mentally process or understand information. It can also refer to a compilation or summary of information. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each use.
To break down food in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb nutrients.
The standard verb for digesting food. Used in both casual and formal contexts.
This food is easy to digest.
The stomach digests food.
The noun form meaning 'digestion'. Often used in compounds or formal writing.
Digestion takes time.
To think about and understand new information, ideas, or experiences.
The same verb as for food, metaphorically extended to mean mentally processing information. Very common.
It took time to digest the new information.
Literally 'to organize in one's head'. A natural way to express mentally processing or sorting out information.
Simply means 'to understand'. Use when the focus is on comprehension rather than the process of breaking down information.
I struggled to digest his explanation.
A collection of information, often shortened or condensed, such as a digest of news or a literary digest.
A loanword from English, widely used for a summary or compilation, especially in media contexts like 'news digest' or 'digest version'.
I read the weekly news digest.
Means 'summary' or 'digest'. More formal and often used in academic or professional contexts.
A formal term for an abstract or digest, often used for academic papers or official documents.
消化する implies a gradual process of breaking down and absorbing information, similar to digestion. 理解する simply means 'to understand' and focuses on the result. Use 消化する when emphasizing the time or effort needed to fully grasp something.
I need time to digest this concept.
He understood immediately.
I'm digesting what was discussed in today's meeting.
This book is a digest of classic literature.
報告書の要約を作成する。
I create a digest of the report.
学会の抄録集を読む。
I read the conference digest.