Translation guide
The English word 'fellowship' covers several related ideas: a friendly group or association, a sense of companionship, an academic or professional grant, and sometimes a religious community. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Referring to an organized group, club, or association, often formal or semi-formal.
General term for an organization, group, or body. Suitable for most formal or semi-formal groups.
彼は地域のボランティア団体に所属している。
He belongs to a local volunteer fellowship.
Association or society, often used for professional or academic bodies.
国際交流協会がイベントを主催した。
The international exchange fellowship hosted the event.
Informal club or circle, common in university or hobby contexts. Less formal than 団体.
大学で映画サークルに入った。
I joined a film fellowship at university.
The feeling of friendship, camaraderie, or shared experience among people.
Friendship. The most direct equivalent for the emotional bond of fellowship.
彼らは深い友情で結ばれている。
They are bound by a deep fellowship.
Friendly relations, often used in the context of social gatherings or group harmony.
Sense of camaraderie or fellowship among peers. Emphasizes group identity.
Association or fellowship, often with a slightly literary or biblical nuance. Can imply deeper communion.
A funded research position or scholarship, especially at a university.
Loanword from English, widely understood in academic contexts. Refers specifically to a fellowship grant or position.
彼女は研究フェローシップを獲得した。
She won a research fellowship.
Research scholarship. Used when the fellowship is primarily financial support for study/research.
大学院の研究奨学金に応募した。
I applied for a graduate fellowship.
Special researcher, often used for postdoctoral fellowships in Japan (e.g., JSPS fellowship).
日本学術振興会の特別研究員になった。
I became a JSPS research fellow.
Spiritual fellowship, often within a church or faith group.
Used in Christian contexts for fellowship, communion. Carries a sense of spiritual bond.
教会の交わりに参加する。
Participate in church fellowship.
Close friendship or fellowship, can be used in religious contexts but also secular.
Faith community. Emphasizes the group aspect of religious fellowship.
その信仰共同体は互いに支え合っている。
That faith fellowship supports each other.
The English word 'fellowship' as a feeling of friendship does not have a single perfect Japanese equivalent. Using 友情 (friendship) or 仲間意識 (sense of camaraderie) is more natural than trying to translate 'fellowship' directly. The loanword フェローシップ is only used for academic grants, not for companionship.
親睦を深めるためにパーティーを開いた。
We held a party to foster fellowship.
チームには強い仲間意識がある。
There is a strong sense of fellowship in the team.
信者たちの交わりは温かかった。
The fellowship of the believers was warm.
信仰を通じて深い親交が生まれた。
A deep fellowship was born through faith.