Translation guide
The English word 'jamming' covers several distinct concepts: blocking signals, forcefully pushing something into place, making music informally, and getting stuck mechanically. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression for each situation.
Deliberately blocking radio, radar, or electronic signals.
General term for interference or obstruction, commonly used for signal jamming.
敵の通信を妨害する。
Jam the enemy's communications.
Loanword from English, used in technical contexts.
GPSジャミングが発生した。
GPS jamming occurred.
Specifically 'radio wave interference', often used in legal or technical descriptions.
電波妨害装置は違法です。
Radio jamming devices are illegal.
Pushing or stuffing something forcefully into a confined space.
To push or cram something into a space.
彼は服をカバンに押し込んだ。
He jammed his clothes into the bag.
To pack or cram tightly, often used for filling containers or schedules.
To screw or force in, often with a twisting motion. More specific than general jamming.
Playing music together informally, improvising.
Common phrase for a jam session, using the loanword 'session'.
今夜、友達とジャズのセッションをする。
Tonight I'm jamming with friends (jazz session).
Literally 'to perform improvisationally', more formal description.
ミュージシャンたちが即興で演奏している。
The musicians are jamming (improvising).
Slang verb derived from 'jam', used among musicians.
ちょっとジャムろうよ。
Let's jam a bit.
A machine or part becoming stuck and unable to move.
Intransitive verb meaning to be blocked or clogged. Use for paper jams, etc.
プリンターが紙詰まりを起こした。
The printer jammed (had a paper jam).
General verb for breaking down or malfunctioning, not specific to jamming.
コピー機が故障した。
The copier jammed/broke down.
To get caught or snagged, used for objects stuck in mechanisms.
The loanword ジャミング is only for electronic interference. Using it for a paper jam or stuffing a bag sounds unnatural.
押し込む focuses on the action of pushing into a tight space, while 詰め込む emphasizes packing tightly to fill capacity. For a single object forced in, use 押し込む; for many items crammed in, use 詰め込む.
旅行客が電車に詰め込まれた。
The tourists were jammed into the train.
彼は鍵を無理やりねじ込んだ。
He jammed the key in forcefully.
紙が中で引っかかっている。
The paper is jammed inside.