Translation guide
The English word "harvest" can refer to the act of gathering crops, the season when this happens, or the yield itself. In Japanese, different words and expressions are used depending on the nuance. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these ideas.
To express the action of collecting ripe crops from the fields.
The most general verb meaning 'to harvest' or 'to reap'. It can be used for any crop.
We harvest rice in the fall.
Literally 'to cut and take', used for harvesting grains like rice or wheat by cutting. More specific than 収穫する.
Used for picking fruits, vegetables, or tea leaves by hand. Often translated as 'pick' rather than 'harvest'.
To refer to the period when crops are gathered.
To refer to the amount or the actual crops that have been harvested.
To express the idea of reaping benefits or results from effort.
Literally 'obtain results', a natural way to express reaping the benefits of work.
The loanword ハーベスト is rarely used in Japanese except in product names (e.g., ハーベストタイム). For general use, stick to native or Sino-Japanese terms.
収穫する is the general verb for harvesting any crop. 刈り取る specifically means cutting and gathering, typically for grains. Use 収穫する unless you want to emphasize the cutting action.
小麦を刈り取る時期です。
It's time to harvest the wheat.
Pick apples.
The harvest season or harvest period. A straightforward compound.
The harvest season varies by region.
Refers to the act of bringing in the harvest, often implying the busy harvest period. Can also be used as a verb (取り入れる).
The harvest time is the busiest for farmers.
A poetic phrase meaning 'autumn of harvest' or 'fruitful autumn', often used in literary or seasonal contexts.
We have welcomed the fruitful autumn.
Noun meaning 'harvest' or 'yield'. Can refer to the act or the product.
This year's rice harvest was abundant.
Specifically refers to the yield or output, often used in agricultural statistics.
The harvest yield increased compared to last year.
Refers to the condition or quality of the harvest, often used in news or reports.
This year's harvest is about average.
We reaped the rewards of years of research.
Idiom meaning 'to bear fruit', used for efforts that finally produce results.
His efforts bore fruit.
Can be used metaphorically to mean 'reap' rewards or consequences, but less common than the above.
You must reap what you sow.