Translation guide
The English word "distant" covers physical distance, emotional coldness, remote relationships, and abstract remoteness. Japanese uses different words depending on the nuance.
Describing something physically far from the speaker or a reference point.
The most common word for physical distance. Used for places, objects, and sometimes sounds.
駅はここから遠いですか。
Is the station far from here?
遠い国から来ました。
I came from a distant country.
Attributive form meaning "distant" or "far-off," used before nouns.
遠くの山が見える。
I can see distant mountains.
Literary or poetic word for "far-off" or "remote." Often used in written language or songs.
遥かな昔の話です。
It's a story from the distant past.
Referring to events or periods far in the past or future.
Also used for temporal distance. Common with words like 過去 (past) or 未来 (future).
遠い将来のことはわからない。
I don't know about the distant future.
それは遠い昔の出来事だ。
That's an event from the distant past.
Literally "far ahead," used for the distant future.
遠い先の計画を立てる。
Make plans for the distant future.
Describing a person, attitude, or atmosphere that is unfriendly, detached, or lacking warmth.
Literally "cold," but commonly used for a cold personality or distant attitude.
彼は最近冷たくなった。
He has become distant lately.
冷たい態度をとる。
Take a distant attitude.
Curt, brusque, or cold in a way that feels dismissive. Often used for short replies.
Describing a relative who is not immediate family, or a connection that is not close.
Describing a memory or impression that is faint or not vivid.
Means "faint" or "dim," often used for distant memories or sounds.
かすかな記憶しかない。
I only have a distant memory.
Hazy, vague, or dim. Used for memories or images that are not clear.
おぼろげな記憶がよみがえる。
A distant memory comes back.
Describing a place that is far from civilization or hard to reach.
Describes a remote, out-of-the-way place. Often has a negative nuance of inconvenience.
辺鄙な村に住んでいる。
I live in a distant village.
Literally "far from human habitation." Used for secluded or isolated places.
人里離れた山奥の温泉。
A hot spring in a distant mountain area.
While 遠い can sometimes imply emotional distance in set phrases like 遠い目 (distant look), it is not used directly to describe a person's attitude. Use 冷たい or よそよそしい for a person who is acting distant.
彼は冷たい人だ。
He is a distant person.
English sometimes uses 'distant' to mean 'not similar' (e.g., 'a distant resemblance'). Japanese does not use 遠い this way. Instead, use 似ていない (not similar) or わずかな (slight).
Describes behavior that is standoffish, distant, or keeping someone at arm's length.
彼女は急によそよそしくなった。
She suddenly became distant.
そっけない返事が返ってきた。
I got a distant reply.
遠縁の者です。
I'm a distant relative.