Translation guide
The English word "generation" covers several distinct concepts: a group of people born around the same time, the act of producing something, a stage in a family lineage, and a period of technological development. Each meaning requires different Japanese expressions.
Referring to a group of people born and living around the same time, often sharing cultural experiences.
The younger generation quickly gets used to new technology.
I feel the generation gap.
Loanword from English, often used in compound terms like 'generation gap' (ジェネレーションギャップ) or in marketing contexts.
It's difficult to bridge the generation gap.
The act or process of producing or creating something, especially energy, power, or ideas.
Specifically for 'generation of electricity'. Used in terms like 'power generation'.
This area is suitable for solar power generation.
Used for generation or creation of data, images, text, etc., often in technical or computing contexts.
For generation of something that emerges or occurs, like heat, gas, or problems. Implies something coming into being naturally or as a byproduct.
Used for generation of resources or products, often in economic or industrial contexts. More formal.
A single step in the line of descent from an ancestor, like 'three generations' of a family.
A stage of technological development, like 'next-generation' or 'fifth-generation' computers.
世代 (せだい) is the general term for a generation of people or technology. 代 (だい) is a counter used with numbers to indicate ordinal generations (e.g., 三代目 = third generation). Use 世代 when talking about the concept of a generation, and 代 when specifying which generation in a sequence.
While ジェネレーション is understood, it's mainly used in specific compounds or trendy contexts. For most meanings, 世代 or other native terms are more natural.
The new generation of smartphones is faster.
We need to increase power generation.
AIによる画像生成が進化している。
Image generation by AI is evolving.
摩擦で熱が発生する。
Heat is generated by friction.
この油田は大量の原油を産出する。
This oil field generates a large amount of crude oil.
He is the third-generation president.
Also used in tech contexts, e.g., 第5世代 (5th generation) is often read as だいごジェネレーション.
5G stands for the 5th generation mobile communication system.