Translation guide
The state of being temporarily inactive, asleep, or not growing, often applied to plants, animals, volcanoes, or abstract things like accounts or talents.
Describing a natural period of rest or suspended growth in living organisms.
The standard term for biological dormancy, such as seeds, bulbs, or animals hibernating. Used in both scientific and everyday contexts.
この種は長い休眠期間があります。
These seeds have a long dormancy period.
熊は冬の間、休眠状態に入ります。
Bears enter a dormant state during winter.
Specifically refers to hibernation in animals during winter. Not used for plants or seeds.
リスは冬眠しませんが、活動が鈍ります。
Squirrels don't hibernate, but their activity slows down.
Estivation; dormancy during hot, dry periods. Rarely used outside biology.
カタツムリは乾燥を避けるために夏眠します。
Snails estivate to avoid dryness.
Describing a volcano that is not currently erupting but may erupt again.
A dormant volcano. This is the standard term in geology and news reports.
富士山は休火山です。
Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano.
A more descriptive phrase meaning 'a volcano that has paused activity'. Used in explanations.
この火山は現在活動を休止しています。
This volcano is currently dormant.
Describing something like a bank account, subscription, or talent that is not currently active but could be reactivated.
A dormant bank account. This is a fixed term in banking.
長期間使っていないと、休眠口座になることがあります。
If you don't use it for a long time, it may become a dormant account.
Dormant state; can be used for memberships, projects, or talents that are temporarily inactive.
そのプロジェクトは現在休眠状態です。
That project is currently in a dormant state.
彼の才能は休眠状態のままだ。
His talent remains dormant.
Suspension or pause; often used for services or accounts that are temporarily stopped.
Describing a disease or condition that is present but not currently active or showing symptoms.
Latent or dormant, especially for diseases or viruses. Often used as 潜伏期間 (incubation period) or 潜伏している (to be dormant).
ウイルスは体内で潜伏することがあります。
The virus can remain dormant in the body.
To be in a dormant state; can be used for diseases, but 潜伏 is more common for medical contexts.
その病気は何年も休眠状態にあることがあります。
The disease can remain dormant for years.
休眠 (kyūmin) is the general term for dormancy in biology, covering plants, seeds, and animals. 冬眠 (tōmin) is specifically hibernation in winter, and 夏眠 (kamin) is estivation in summer. Use 休眠 unless you need to specify the season.
休火山 (kyūkazan) only means 'dormant volcano'. Using it for a dormant account or talent would be incorrect. Stick to 休眠 (kyūmin) for general dormancy.
誤: 休眠口座を休火山と言わない。
Incorrect: Don't call a dormant account a dormant volcano.
The membership is dormant (suspended).