Translation guide
The English word "gravel" refers to small, loose stones often used for paths, driveways, or construction. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 砂利 (じゃり), but other terms exist depending on size, context, or specific usage.
The most common meaning: loose, small stones used in landscaping, road surfaces, or as a base material.
The standard word for gravel in everyday contexts. Covers most uses like garden paths, driveways, and construction aggregate.
I spread gravel in the garden.
It's tough walking on a gravel road.
A more technical or geological term for gravel, often used in scientific contexts or to describe larger pebbles. Can also refer to small stones in general.
This stratum contains a lot of gravel.
Literally 'small stones', this can be used for gravel-sized stones, but is more general and often implies individual pebbles rather than a mass of gravel.
There were small stones/gravel on the road.
Gravel used in concrete, road base, or drainage.
Also the standard term for gravel used in construction. Context makes the meaning clear.
Concrete requires gravel, sand, and cement.
Crushed stone, often used as a more precise term for mechanically crushed gravel used in construction and road building.
A less common compound explicitly meaning 'gravel stone', sometimes used in construction contexts.
Lay down gravel stones.
Very small gravel, almost like coarse sand or grit.
Technically 'sand', but in some contexts fine gravel might be described as 砂 if the particles are very small. Use with caution.
Only use when the gravel is sand-sized. For typical gravel, use 砂利.
This gravel is almost like sand.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'fine gravel'. This is the safest way to specify small-sized gravel.
Please spread fine gravel.
Decorative gravel used in Japanese gardens, often raked into patterns.
Still the general term, but in a garden context it's understood as decorative gravel.
The gravel in the Japanese garden is arranged in beautiful patterns.
Rounded, smooth gravel often used decoratively in gardens or aquariums. Literally 'ball gravel'.
Specifically referring to a road or path surfaced with gravel.
砂利 is the everyday word for gravel as a material. 礫 is more technical/geological and can refer to larger pebbles. 小石 means 'small stone' and is used for individual stones rather than a mass of gravel.
The English word 'gravel' sounds similar to 'grave', but they are unrelated. The Japanese word for grave is 墓 (はか).
砕石を路盤に使う。
Use crushed gravel for the roadbed.
玉砂利を敷いた庭は歩きやすい。
A garden covered with smooth gravel is easy to walk on.
Unpaved roads are often covered with gravel.