Translation guide
A feeder is something that supplies or channels something to something else. This guide covers common ways to express this concept in Japanese, from physical devices to abstract roles.
A container or device used to give food to animals or babies.
General term for a feeding device, especially for animals or birds. Often used for pet feeders or livestock feeders.
自動給餌器を買った。
I bought an automatic feeder.
Specifically a baby bottle. Used when 'feeder' refers to a bottle for feeding infants.
赤ちゃんに哺乳瓶でミルクをあげた。
I fed the baby with a bottle.
A feed box or trough, often for livestock or pets. More rustic or farm-oriented.
鶏の餌箱に餌を入れた。
I put feed in the chicken feeder.
A device or container for feeding wild birds.
Common term for a bird feeder, literally 'bird feeding stand'. Often used in gardens.
庭に鳥の餌台を置いた。
I put a bird feeder in the garden.
Katakana loanword from English 'bird feeder'. Common in product names and among bird-watching enthusiasts.
バードフィーダーにヒマワリの種を入れた。
I put sunflower seeds in the bird feeder.
A machine or device that supplies material to a process or another machine.
General term for a supply device or feeder in industrial contexts. Can be used for various materials.
この機械には自動供給装置が付いている。
This machine has an automatic feeder.
Katakana loanword used in technical/engineering fields. Often part of compound terms like パーツフィーダー (parts feeder).
パーツフィーダーが故障した。
The parts feeder broke down.
Specifically a feeding or conveying device, often for continuous material like wire or paper.
紙送り装置の調子が悪い。
The paper feeder is not working well.
A person, organization, or thing that provides a steady supply of something (e.g., information, money, people).
Pattern meaning 'source of supply for ~'. Use with nouns like 情報 (information), 資金 (funds), 人材 (human resources).
この学校は優秀な人材の供給源だ。
This school is a feeder of excellent talent.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'something that supplies ~'. Flexible and clear.
その川は町に水を供給するものだ。
The river is a feeder of water to the town.
Also used metaphorically in business/transport contexts, e.g., feeder bus, feeder school. Often part of compound words.
A power line that supplies electricity from a substation to a distribution network.
Standard term for a feeder line in electrical engineering.
給電線に問題が発生した。
A problem occurred on the feeder line.
Katakana + 線, common in technical documents.
フィーダー線の電圧を測定する。
Measure the voltage of the feeder line.
フィーダー校から多くの生徒が入学する。
Many students enter from feeder schools.