Translation guide
A ceremonial formation of people, often military, to honour a person or event. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific terms for the formation itself, and the concept is closely tied to formal ceremonies and state visits.
A formal line of soldiers, police, or other uniformed personnel assembled to greet and honour a dignitary or at a ceremonial event.
Refers specifically to the soldiers who form the guard of honour. This is the most direct and common term for the personnel.
A group of people standing in lines to honour someone at a wedding, funeral, or other non-military event.
There is no single common term for a non-military guard of honour. Instead, describe the action or formation, e.g., 'lined up to honour', 'formed a guard of honour'.
卒業生が花道を作って先生を送り出した。
The graduates formed a guard of honour to see off the teacher.
儀仗兵 (ぎじょうへい) refers to the individual soldiers, while 儀仗隊 (ぎじょうたい) refers to the unit. Use 儀仗兵 when focusing on the people, and 儀仗隊 when referring to the group as an entity.
Avoid directly translating 'guard of honour' as 名誉の警護 (めいよのけいご) or similar; it is not idiomatic. Stick to the established terms above.
儀仗兵が整列した。
The guard of honour lined up.
Refers to the unit or corps that performs the guard of honour duty. Often used for the group as a whole.
儀仗隊が大統領を出迎えた。
The guard of honour welcomed the president.
Literally 'honour salute', this refers to the ceremonial honours rendered, which includes the guard of honour. It is the broader ceremony rather than just the people.
国賓に栄誉礼が行われた。
A guard of honour was performed for the state guest.
A more formal or literary term for the ceremonial guard or the act of standing guard in honour. Often used in official contexts.
儀仗に就く兵士たち。
Soldiers mounting the guard of honour.
選手たちはトンネルを作って退団する仲間を称えた。
The players formed a guard of honour to honour their retiring teammate.