Translation guide
The English word 'imported' describes goods or items brought into a country from abroad. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through specific vocabulary and grammatical patterns, depending on whether you are describing the origin of an item, the act of importing, or the status of being foreign-made.
To say that a product, food, or object is from another country, often with a nuance of quality or exoticness.
A noun meaning 'imported goods' or 'an imported item'. This is the most direct and common way to refer to something that has been imported.
This store carries a lot of imported goods.
That wine is an import.
The past tense of the verb 輸入する (to import), used as an adjective meaning 'imported'. It directly modifies nouns.
Imported fruit is expensive.
A noun or no-adjective meaning 'foreign-made' or 'produced in a foreign country'. Often used on labels or in product descriptions.
Foreign-produced beef can be cheap.
A somewhat dated or literary term meaning 'imported' or 'foreign-made', often carrying a nuance of high quality or luxury from abroad. Commonly seen in set phrases like 舶来品 (imported goods).
A suit made from imported fabric.
To talk about the process or action of bringing goods into a country.
To describe abstract things like culture, words, or systems that have been brought in from abroad.
A prefix meaning 'foreign' or 'imported', used for concepts, words, or species. Common in words like 外来語 (loanword) and 外来種 (invasive species).
Japanese has many loanwords.
Can also be used metaphorically for importing ideas or culture, though less common than for physical goods.
輸入品 emphasizes the fact that the item was imported, often implying it went through customs or is sold as an import. 外国産 simply states the item was produced in a foreign country, without focusing on the import process. On food labels, 外国産 is very common.
This cheese is expensive because it's an import.
Uses foreign-produced wheat.
English often uses 'imported' directly before a noun (e.g., 'imported beer'). In Japanese, while 輸入されたビール is grammatically correct, it's more natural to use 輸入ビール (import beer) or 外国産のビール (foreign beer) in many contexts. Overusing 輸入された can sound stiff.
I want to drink imported beer.
Imported goods are subject to tariffs.
This company imports coffee beans from Brazil.
To import Western culture.