Translation guide
The English word "grounds" has several distinct meanings. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on context: physical land, reasons/basis, coffee sediment, or electrical grounding.
Referring to an area of land, especially around a building or used for a specific purpose.
Most common word for the grounds of a building, house, or facility. Refers to the plot of land itself.
Smoking is prohibited on school grounds.
These grounds are spacious, aren't they?
Specifically for the grounds/premises of a large facility like a university, factory, or station. Emphasizes the enclosed area.
A cafe opened on the university grounds.
Refers to landscaped gardens or park-like grounds, often of a temple, palace, or large estate.
The temple grounds are beautiful.
The foundation or justification for a belief, action, or argument.
The standard word for 'grounds' in the sense of evidence or logical basis. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
There are no sufficient grounds for that claim.
What are the grounds for firing him?
General word for 'reason'. Less formal than 根拠 and can be used in everyday speech.
Used in compound phrases like 〜に基づいて (based on) or 〜を基に (on the grounds of). More formal and often written.
The small particles left after brewing coffee.
The connection of an electrical circuit to the earth.
敷地 refers to the physical land itself, while 構内 emphasizes the enclosed premises of a facility. For a school, both can be used, but 敷地 is more about the property and 構内 about the campus area.
根拠 is more formal and implies objective evidence or a solid basis. 理由 is a general reason and can be subjective. In legal or academic contexts, 根拠 is preferred.
On what grounds do you object?
Judge on the grounds of evidence.
Coffee made from used grounds tastes weak.
Please perform grounding work.