Translation guide
How to express 'fold up' in Japanese, covering folding objects, collapsing furniture, and closing businesses.
To bend something flat over itself, like paper, clothes, or a map.
Transitive verb meaning to fold something, typically paper, cloth, or thin objects. Often implies a single fold or crease.
紙を半分に折ってください。
Please fold the paper in half.
I folded the letter and put it in an envelope.
Transitive verb meaning to fold something up neatly, often into a compact form. Used for clothes, maps, umbrellas, and foldable items.
I folded up the map and put it in my bag.
Transitive verb meaning to fold or close something flat, especially clothes, futons, or umbrellas. Focuses on making something compact for storage.
I folded up the futon and put it in the closet.
Please fold up your umbrella.
To collapse something like a chair, table, or stroller into a compact form for storage or transport.
Used for folding furniture and equipment. Often appears in compound nouns like 折り畳み椅子 (folding chair).
This table folds up easily.
Can be used for folding furniture, but 折り畳む is more common for mechanical folding. 畳む is more natural for fabric items.
To close down a business, shop, or operation permanently.
Idiomatic use meaning to close a business. Often used in casual or spoken contexts.
I heard that shop folded up last month.
We had to fold up the company due to the recession.
General verb for closing a business, but can imply permanent closure in context. More neutral than 畳む.
Formal term for going out of business or discontinuing a business. Used in official contexts.
折る (oru) is for a simple fold or crease, often once. 折り畳む (oritatamu) emphasizes folding something into a compact, portable form, often with multiple folds. 畳む (tatamu) is for folding flat items like clothes or futons, and also has the idiomatic meaning of closing a business.
The English 'fold up' for closing a business does not translate to 折る. Use 畳む or other business closure terms.
Please fold the laundry neatly.
I folded up the stroller and put it in the car.
I folded up the folding chairs and put them in the corner.
店を閉めることにしました。
I decided to close up the shop.
After many years in business, we will fold up at the end of this month.