Translation guide
The English word "graphic" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers how to express each in Japanese, from visual designs and explicit descriptions to computer graphics and mathematical graphs.
Referring to a picture, illustration, or design, especially in media, advertising, or digital content.
A loanword from English, widely used for digital or printed visual designs, such as in 'graphic design' or 'computer graphics'.
このポスターのグラフィックがとても印象的です。
The graphic on this poster is very striking.
A general term for a diagram, figure, or illustration. Often used in academic or technical contexts.
この図は売上の推移を示しています。
This graphic shows the sales trends.
Refers to a picture or image, especially digital. Can be used for graphics on a screen.
ウェブサイトに画像を追加しました。
I added a graphic to the website.
Short for 'illustration'. Used for hand-drawn or illustrative graphics, often in a cute or artistic style.
このイラストは手描きですか？
Is this graphic hand-drawn?
Describing something that is shown or described in a very clear and detailed way, often involving violence or sex.
Means 'vivid', 'raw', or 'graphic'. Often used for descriptions or depictions that are disturbingly realistic.
その映画には生々しい暴力シーンがあります。
The movie has graphic violence scenes.
Means 'explicit', 'blatant', or 'graphic'. Often used for sexual content or blunt descriptions.
露骨な性的描写は避けてください。
Please avoid graphic sexual depictions.
Means 'detailed'. Can be used for graphic descriptions that are thorough and precise, without necessarily being shocking.
彼は事故の詳細な説明をした。
He gave a graphic account of the accident.
Means 'overt' or 'undisguised'. Can be used for graphic content that is blatant and not hidden.
あからさまな暴力表現が問題になった。
The graphic violence became an issue.
Referring to images or visual effects produced by a computer, often in gaming, design, or technology.
The full term for 'computer graphics'. Often abbreviated as CG.
このゲームのコンピューターグラフィックスは素晴らしい。
The computer graphics in this game are amazing.
Abbreviation for 'computer graphics'. Very common in gaming and film contexts.
CGで作られたキャラクター
a character made with CG
Often used in the context of video game graphics or display quality.
Referring to the visual arts based on drawing or printing, such as etching, lithography, or graphic design as an art form.
Loanword for 'graphic art'. Used in art contexts.
彼はグラフィックアートを専攻している。
He is majoring in graphic arts.
Refers to printmaking or woodblock prints. A traditional graphic art form.
浮世絵は日本の版画の一種です。
Ukiyo-e is a type of Japanese graphic art.
Referring to a visual representation of data, such as a chart, graph, or infographic.
Means 'graph' or 'chart'. Used for data visualization.
このグラフは気温の変化を示しています。
This graphic shows the temperature changes.
A formal term for a chart, diagram, or table.
生々しい emphasizes vividness and rawness, often with a sensory impact. 露骨な emphasizes explicitness and lack of concealment, often with a negative connotation of being too direct or crude.
The loanword グラフィック is not used to mean 'explicit' or 'vivid' in the sense of violence or sex. Use 生々しい or 露骨な instead.
このゲームはグラフィックがきれいだ。
This game has nice graphics.
Please include a graphic in the report.