Translation guide
The English verb 'inspire' covers several distinct meanings: to motivate or fill with a positive feeling, to stimulate creativity, to cause a particular emotion in someone, and to serve as the source of an idea. Japanese expresses these with different words and patterns depending on the nuance.
To fill someone with the desire or confidence to do something, often something positive or ambitious.
General verb for encouraging or cheering someone up, giving them emotional support to keep going.
彼の言葉に励まされた。
I was inspired by his words.
More formal and intense, meaning to inspire or rouse someone's spirit, often used in speeches or leadership contexts.
彼の演説は聴衆を鼓舞した。
His speech inspired the audience.
Literally 'to make someone feel motivated', a common way to say 'inspire someone to take action'.
彼女の成功物語は私にやる気を起こさせた。
Her success story inspired me to take action.
To give someone an idea for something artistic, inventive, or new.
Literally 'to give an idea/conception', used when something sparks a creative thought.
この風景が画家に着想を与えた。
This landscape inspired the painter.
To stimulate or trigger an idea or emotion, often used in intellectual or artistic contexts.
その映画に触発されて小説を書いた。
Inspired by that movie, I wrote a novel.
Direct loanword 'inspiration' plus 'give', common in creative fields.
彼の音楽は私にインスピレーションを与えてくれる。
His music inspires me.
To make someone feel a particular emotion, often admiration, confidence, or awe.
Used in patterns like '信頼を抱かせる' (inspire trust). It means to cause someone to hold a feeling.
彼の誠実さは信頼を抱かせる。
His sincerity inspires trust.
Pattern meaning 'to arouse a feeling of ~'. E.g., 尊敬の念を起こさせる (inspire respect).
彼の行動は尊敬の念を起こさせる。
His actions inspire respect.
To evoke or call forth a feeling or memory, often used for inspiration in a poetic sense.
To serve as the basis or model for something created.
Pattern meaning 'inspired by ~', literally 'getting a hint from ~'. Very common for creative works.
この作品は日本の民話にヒントを得ている。
This work is inspired by Japanese folktales.
To get an idea from something, often used in design or invention.
このデザインは自然から発想を得た。
This design was inspired by nature.
The English verb 'inspire' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Using a dictionary form like '鼓舞する' in casual conversation may sound overly dramatic. Choose the expression based on the specific nuance: encouragement, creative spark, or causing a feeling.
その詩は深い感動を呼び起こす。
The poem inspires deep emotion.