Translation guide
A heavy wheel that stores rotational energy, used in engines and machinery. In Japanese, the standard term is フライホイール, with a native equivalent 弾み車. This entry covers both the mechanical part and related metaphorical uses.
A heavy rotating wheel used to store kinetic energy and smooth out power delivery in engines or machines.
Something that stores momentum or energy in a system, often used in business or self-improvement contexts.
The English metaphor 'flywheel effect' is often directly borrowed as フライホイール効果 in Japanese business literature. The term フライホイール can be used in metaphorical contexts, but it's less common than in English. Often, Japanese prefers native expressions like 好循環 (virtuous cycle) for similar concepts.
この戦略はビジネスのフライホイールを回すだろう。
This strategy will spin the business flywheel.
While 'flywheel' is used metaphorically in English (e.g., 'flywheel effect'), Japanese often prefers native expressions like 好循環 or 弾み. Directly using フライホイール in a metaphor may sound like a loanword and might not be immediately understood without context.
小さな成功が弾みとなって、大きな成果につながった。
Small successes gained momentum and led to big results.
The most common and widely understood term in modern technical contexts, borrowed from English.
エンジンのフライホイールが壊れた。
The engine's flywheel broke.
A native Japanese term for flywheel, often used in mechanical engineering contexts. Less common than フライホイール but still understood.
この機械には大きな弾み車が付いている。
This machine has a large flywheel attached.
Refers specifically to a dual-mass flywheel, a component in modern automotive transmissions. Technical term.
デュアルマスフライホイールの交換は高くつく。
Replacing a dual-mass flywheel is expensive.
Means 'virtuous cycle' or 'positive feedback loop', often used where English might say 'flywheel effect' in business or economics.
顧客満足度の向上が売上増加の好循環を生んだ。
Improved customer satisfaction created a virtuous cycle of increased sales.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to gain momentum', derived from the same root as 弾み車. Used when a project or activity picks up speed.
プロジェクトに弾みがついてきた。
The project has gained momentum.