Translation guide
The practice of cutting or altering female genitalia for non-medical reasons, often called female genital mutilation (FGM) in advocacy contexts. Japanese uses the medical term 女性割礼 or the advocacy term 女性器切除.
The neutral or clinical term for the practice.
Standard term for female circumcision, used in medical and anthropological contexts.
女性割礼は一部の地域で行われている。
Female circumcision is practiced in some regions.
The term used by activists and international organizations to emphasize harm.
Literally 'female genital cutting', equivalent to FGM. Used in human rights and advocacy contexts.
女性器切除は人権侵害です。
Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation.
The English abbreviation is sometimes used in Japanese advocacy materials, pronounced エフジーエム.
FGMは国際的に非難されている。
FGM is internationally condemned.
A longer phrase to explain the practice without using a specific term.
Less common variant using 女子 (girl/female) instead of 女性 (woman/female).
女子割礼の慣習は根絶されるべきだ。
The custom of female circumcision should be eradicated.
Do not translate 'female circumcision' word-for-word as 女性の割礼 (じょせいのかつれい) or 女性の包皮切除 (じょせいのほうひせつじょ). These are not standard and may cause confusion.
女性割礼 is the neutral medical term, while 女性器切除 is the advocacy term equivalent to FGM. Use 女性器切除 when discussing human rights or activism.