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.
庭に砂利を敷いた。
I spread gravel in the garden.
砂利道を歩くのは大変だ。
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.
この地層には礫が多く含まれている。
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.
道に小石が落ちていた。
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.
コンクリートには砂利と砂とセメントが必要だ。
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.
砂利石を敷き詰める。
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.
この砂利はほとんど砂みたいだ。
This gravel is almost like sand.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'fine gravel'. This is the safest way to specify small-sized gravel.
細かい砂利を敷いてください。
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.
日本庭園の砂利は美しい模様に整えられている。
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.
The standard term for a gravel road or path.
この先は砂利道になる。
It becomes a gravel road ahead.
Unpaved road, which often implies gravel but could be dirt. More formal.
未舗装道路は砂利が敷かれていることが多い。
Unpaved roads are often covered 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.
A garden covered with smooth gravel is easy to walk on.