Translation guide
The economic concept of a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. This guide covers how to talk about inflation in Japanese, from the standard term to related expressions.
What is the Japanese word for inflation?
Most common term. Use インフレーション in formal contexts.
Referring to the economic phenomenon of rising prices.
The most common and casual term for inflation. Short for インフレーション. Used in everyday conversation and news.
Inflation has been progressing recently.
The full, more formal term for inflation. Often used in economic reports or academic contexts.
The inflation rate rose.
Literally 'price rise'. A more descriptive, slightly formal term. Common in news and business.
Rising prices are putting pressure on household budgets.
Means 'inflationary trend'. Used when discussing the direction of inflation.
The economy is in an inflationary trend.
Specifically referring to the rate at which prices are increasing.
Referring to extremely high and typically accelerating inflation.
The common term for hyperinflation. Short for ハイパーインフレーション.
That country fell into hyperinflation.
Referring to a decrease in the general price level, the opposite of inflation.
Referring to the act of inflating something, like a balloon, or a figurative expansion.
Both mean inflation, but インフレ is a loanword and more casual, while 物価上昇 is a native Japanese compound that literally means 'price rise' and is slightly more formal. In everyday speech, インフレ is more common.
Life is tough because of inflation.
Prices continue to rise.
The English verb 'to inflate' (e.g., a balloon) is 膨らませる (ふくらませる) or 膨張させる (ぼうちょうさせる). The economic term 'inflation' does not directly become a verb in Japanese; instead, use phrases like インフレが進む (inflation progresses) or 物価が上がる (prices rise).
Inflation is a serious problem.
The government is trying to control inflation.
Literally 'price increase rate'. A more formal alternative, often seen in economic data.
The inflation rate rose 3% year-on-year.
The full term, used in formal or academic writing.
Hyperinflation destroys the economy.
Deflation indicates a lack of demand.
In cosmology, the inflationary epoch is called インフレーション. Also used for inflating a balloon in technical contexts.
The theory of cosmic inflation is widely accepted.