Translation guide
To express that something is far away in Japanese, the most common word is 遠い (とおい). However, Japanese has several related words and expressions that convey distance, remoteness, or being far off, depending on context and nuance.
Describing a place or object that is far away in physical space.
The most common and general adjective for 'far away' or 'distant'. Used for physical distance.
Is the station far from here?
His house is in a faraway place.
Noun or adverb form of 遠い, meaning 'far away' or 'in the distance'. Often used as 遠くに (in the distance) or 遠くから (from afar).
I can see mountains in the distance.
He came from far away.
Adverb or na-adjective meaning 'far away', 'distant', or 'by far'. Often used in literary or emphatic contexts. Can also mean 'much' or 'far' in comparisons.
A distant island was visible far away.
Describing events that are far in the past or future.
Describing a relationship or similarity that is distant or not close.
Can be used metaphorically for relationships (distant relatives) or for things that are far from an ideal or standard.
He is a distant relative.
We are still far from the ideal.
Phrase meaning 'far from' a certain standard or expectation. Often used as ～にはほど遠い.
Describing a person who seems distant, absent-minded, or emotionally detached.
Describing a sound that is faint or distant.
遠い (とおい) is the standard word for 'far' in both physical and metaphorical senses. 遥か (はるか) is more emphatic and literary, often used for great distances or in poetic descriptions. In everyday speech, 遠い is preferred.
The station is far.
A star far, far away.
遠慮 (えんりょ) means 'reserve' or 'restraint', not physical distance. It shares the kanji 遠 but is unrelated to 'far away'.
遥か昔、この地には王国があった。
Long, long ago, there was a kingdom in this land.
His skill is far from professional level.
彼の心はここから遠いところにあるようだ。
His mind seems to be somewhere far away.