Translation guide
The English word "journal" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a personal diary, an academic or professional periodical, and a logbook or record. It also touches on less common uses like a ship's log or a mechanical bearing part.
A book in which you write down your personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings on a regular basis.
The most common and natural word for a personal diary or journal. It implies daily entries, but can be used more loosely.
I keep a journal every day.
I accidentally read her journal.
Specifically refers to a diary notebook or journal book. Use this when emphasizing the physical object.
I bought a new journal.
A loanword from English. It can sound trendy or refer to a specific type of journaling (e.g., bullet journal). Not as common as 日記 for a simple diary.
I started a bullet journal.
A serious magazine or publication containing articles about a particular subject, especially an academic one.
The standard term for an academic journal. It emphasizes scholarly content.
The paper was published in a prestigious journal.
A specialized magazine or journal for a particular field or profession. Broader than 学術誌; can include trade journals.
Often used in the names of academic journals or as a general term in academic contexts. It is a direct loanword and common in titles.
Refers to a bulletin or journal published by a university or research institution. Often used for in-house publications.
An official record of events, transactions, or observations kept regularly, such as a ship's log, a business journal, or a scientific log.
A daily log or record, often used in business, schools, or official contexts. It implies a factual record rather than personal thoughts.
Keep a ship's log.
Please submit the work journal.
A general word for record or log. Can be used for any kind of journal-like record, but it's broader and less specific than 日誌.
In accounting, a journal where transactions are first recorded. A technical term.
The part of a shaft or axle that rests on bearings.
In mechanical engineering, this loanword is used for the part of a shaft that rotates within a bearing. Highly technical.
We changed the design of the journal bearing.
日記 (にっき) is a personal diary for thoughts and feelings. 日誌 (にっし) is a factual log or record, often used in official or business settings. Using 日記 for a ship's log would sound odd.
While ジャーナル is understood, it is not the default word for a personal diary. 日記 is much more natural. ジャーナル is best for academic journals or trendy journaling methods.
医学専門誌を定期購読している。
I subscribe to a medical journal.
ネイチャーは有名な科学ジャーナルです。
Nature is a famous scientific journal.
I submitted to the university journal.
Keep a journal of the experiment in a notebook.
Specifically a ship's log or nautical journal. Use only in maritime contexts.
The captain entered the position in the ship's journal.
会計ソフトが自動的に仕訳帳を作成します。
The accounting software automatically creates a journal.