Translation guide
How to express 'dots' in Japanese, covering visual marks, patterns, and related concepts.
Referring to small, round visual marks, such as dots on a surface, in a pattern, or as punctuation.
General word for a dot, point, or spot. Used for dots in patterns, punctuation, and abstract points.
Put a dot on the paper.
Please cut along the dotted line.
Loanword from English 'dot', often used in technical or design contexts, like pixels or dot patterns.
Refers to spots or specks, often on animals, plants, or as blemishes. More specific than 点.
Referring to the punctuation mark '...' or a series of dots indicating omission or pause.
The standard term for ellipsis (three dots). Often used in writing and editing.
Describing a pattern of repeated dots, especially in fashion or design.
Referring to the activity of connecting numbered dots to form a picture.
The standard term for 'connect the dots' puzzles.
Referring to the dot in domain names or email addresses.
Used when reading out URLs or email addresses. Often pronounced as 'dot' in Japanese.
点 (てん) is the native Japanese word for a dot or point, used in everyday contexts like drawing a dot or a decimal point. ドット is a loanword from English, often used in technical fields (pixels, dot matrix) and in fashion (polka dots). For internet addresses, ドット is standard.
The dots on the screen are too small.
This image has coarse dots (pixels).
A polka-dot shirt.
てんとう虫の斑点。
The spots on a ladybug.
Use an ellipsis to express a lingering feeling.
The symbol itself, often called 点々 (てんてん) informally. In Japanese, it's typically two sets of three dots (……).
"Well..." he said.
The most common term for polka-dot pattern. Literally 'water drop pattern'.
A polka-dot dress.
Also means polka-dot pattern, using the loanword 'dot'. Common in fashion.
The polka-dot skirt is cute.
The child is doing a connect-the-dots.
example dot com
Sometimes used in formal contexts, but ドット is more common for internet addresses.
The address is info dot example dot jp.
Draw pixel art.
While 点 means dot, the pattern 'polka dots' is almost always 水玉模様 or ドット柄. Saying 点柄 (てんがら) is not standard and may not be understood.
She wore a blouse with tiny dots.
Please sign on the dotted line.