Translation guide
The English word "drill" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a tool for making holes, a training exercise, and a military exercise. It also touches on related concepts like drilling a hole and practicing repeatedly.
Referring to the power tool or hand tool used to bore holes.
The most common and direct translation for the tool. It's a loanword from English and widely understood.
I'll make a hole with a drill.
I bought an electric drill.
A traditional Japanese hand drill or gimlet. Used for woodworking. Not common in everyday conversation about modern drills.
The carpenter is using a gimlet.
A repetitive exercise to learn or improve a skill, such as in sports, language learning, or emergency procedures.
General word for practice or training. Can be used for drills in sports, music, etc. Often combined with other words.
I practice kanji drills every day.
Training, often more formal or systematic. Used for drills in professional contexts like fire drills, military training, or corporate training.
Also used for educational drills, especially workbooks or repetitive exercises. Common in school contexts.
A structured military training exercise, often involving marching, formations, or simulated combat.
The action of making a hole using a drill or similar tool.
練習 (renshū) is general practice, often for personal skills or hobbies. 訓練 (kunren) implies systematic training, often in a formal or professional setting (e.g., fire drills, military). ドリル (doriru) is commonly used for educational workbooks or repetitive exercises, especially in school.
While ドリル is common for the tool and educational exercises, it is not used for military drills or formal training exercises. Use 軍事演習 or 訓練 instead.
Soccer drills are tough.
避難訓練に参加する。
Participate in an evacuation drill.
I received business etiquette training during the new employee orientation.
Repetitive practice or drill. Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the exercise.
Repetitive drills are essential for improving English conversation.
Do calculation drills.
I bought a kanji drill book.
兵士たちは教練を受けている。
The soldiers are undergoing drill.
I drilled a hole in the board with a drill.