Translation guide
The scientific description of peoples and cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 民族誌 (minzokushi), but related terms like 民俗学 (minzokugaku) and 文化人類学 (bunka jinruigaku) are also used depending on context.
Referring to a descriptive study or monograph about a particular culture or ethnic group.
The standard translation for 'ethnography' as a written work or descriptive account of a people or culture.
He wrote an ethnography of the Ainu.
This ethnography describes 19th-century Japanese rural life in detail.
Often used interchangeably with 民族誌, but can emphasize folklore or customs rather than ethnic groups. Less common in academic contexts.
An ethnography of that region was published.
Referring to the practice of conducting fieldwork, participant observation, and qualitative cultural research.
When 'ethnography' is loosely used to refer to the broader study of cultures, often overlapping with ethnology or cultural anthropology.
Often translated as 'folklore studies' but can correspond to ethnography in the sense of studying folk customs. Note: 民俗学 is a distinct discipline in Japan, focusing on domestic folk traditions.
He is a professor of ethnography/folklore studies.
Ethnology; a more historical term, sometimes used interchangeably with cultural anthropology but less common today.
民族誌 (minzokushi) is the standard term for ethnography as a descriptive account of a people (民族). 民俗誌 (minzokushi) is a homophone but uses the character for 'folk customs' (民俗), often implying a focus on traditions and daily life. 民俗学 (minzokugaku) is the academic field of folklore studies, which in Japan has a strong domestic tradition and is not a direct equivalent of ethnography as practiced in Western anthropology.
Ethnography describes other cultures.
Folklore studies often research one's own culture.
In casual Japanese, using 民族誌 or エスノグラフィー may sound overly academic. If you simply mean 'studying a culture', consider rephrasing with 文化を調べる (bunka o shiraberu) or 現地調査 (genchi chousa, fieldwork).
We conducted ethnographic research in this project.
Ethnography is a type of qualitative research.
Cultural anthropology; often used when 'ethnography' refers to the broader academic discipline, especially in international contexts.
We read ethnographies in cultural anthropology class.
I saw an exhibit at the ethnography museum.