Translation guide
An eyelet is a small hole, often reinforced with a metal or plastic ring, used for lacing, threading, or ventilation. This guide covers how to express this concept in Japanese, from clothing and shoes to crafts and industrial contexts.
The most common meaning: a small hole with a metal or plastic ring for shoelaces, drawstrings, or corsets.
The standard word for a metal or plastic eyelet used in shoes, clothing, and bags. Literally 'pigeon eye', referring to the round shape.
靴の鳩目が壊れた。
The eyelet on my shoe broke.
このジャケットには鳩目がたくさん付いている。
This jacket has a lot of eyelets.
Loanword from English, commonly used in fashion and craft contexts. Often interchangeable with 鳩目.
このバッグにはアイレットが付いています。
This bag has eyelets.
A small hole punched in material for threading ribbon, cord, or for ventilation, not necessarily reinforced with a ring.
General word for 'hole'. When context is clear, this is the simplest way to refer to an eyelet-like hole in fabric or leather.
布に紐を通すための穴を開ける。
Make a hole in the cloth to thread the cord through.
Literally 'small hole'. Used in technical or craft instructions when the hole is specifically small.
革に小穴を開けて紐を通す。
Punch a small hole in the leather and thread the cord through.
Often written in katakana in craft or DIY contexts, especially for the metal ring itself. Same as 鳩目 but stylized.
ハトメを使ってシートを補強する。
Reinforce the sheet using eyelets.
A type of fabric or embroidery with small decorative holes, often in a floral pattern.
The standard term for eyelet lace fabric. Used in fashion and sewing.
このブラウスはアイレットレースでできている。
This blouse is made of eyelet lace.
Embroidered lace; may include eyelet patterns. Not specific to eyelet, but often used for similar fabrics.
刺繍レースのワンピースが欲しい。
I want a dress made of embroidered lace.
Both mean 'eyelet' and are often interchangeable. 鳩目 is the traditional Japanese word and is more common in everyday speech for shoe eyelets. アイレット is a loanword and is frequently used in fashion, crafts, and technical contexts. In sewing, アイレット may refer to the metal ring itself, while 鳩目 can refer to the hole with or without the ring.
A buttonhole (ボタンホール) is a slit, not a round hole. Eyelets are round and often reinforced with a ring. Using ボタンホール for an eyelet would be incorrect.