Translation guide
The English word "knot" covers several distinct concepts: a fastening made by tying, a tangle, a unit of speed, a hard mass in wood, and more. Japanese uses different words for each.
A knot made by tying a piece of string, rope, shoelace, etc.
General word for a knot in a string, rope, etc. Can be used for most tied knots.
靴ひもの結び目がほどけた。
The knot in my shoelace came undone.
しっかりした結び目を作ってください。
Please make a tight knot.
Also means 'knot', but often used in compound words or more abstractly (e.g., 'tie', 'connection').
この結び方は難しい。
This way of tying a knot is difficult.
Technical term for knot-tying, used in sailing, climbing, etc.
結索の技術を学ぶ。
Learn knot-tying techniques.
A tangled mass, especially in hair, string, etc.
Refers to a tangle or snarl, especially in hair, thread, or relationships.
髪のもつれをとかす。
I comb out the knots in my hair.
糸がもつれてしまった。
The thread got tangled/knotty.
Similar to もつれ, but often implies something is caught or entwined.
A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.
The katakana loanword for 'knot' as a unit of speed. Used in maritime and aviation contexts.
船は20ノットで進んでいる。
The ship is moving at 20 knots.
A hard cross-grained piece in wood where a branch grew.
Refers to a knot in wood, a node in bamboo, or a joint in a finger. Also used metaphorically for a 'knob' or 'protuberance'.
この板には節が多い。
This board has a lot of knots.
A tight, constricted feeling in the body due to anxiety, fear, etc.
Literally 'a feeling of the stomach being tightened'. Common expression for a knot in the stomach.
緊張で胃が締め付けられる感じがした。
I felt a knot in my stomach from nervousness.
Literally 'a feeling of the throat being blocked'. Used for a lump/knot in the throat when emotional.
悲しくて喉が詰まる感じがした。
I felt a knot in my throat from sadness.
A small group of people or things close together.
Means a group, cluster, or knot of people/animals. Often used for a small crowd.
駅前に人の群れができていた。
There was a knot of people in front of the station.
A group, party, or knot of people, often moving together.
The bond of marriage; to tie the knot.
Literally 'the bonds of marriage'. Used figuratively for the marriage knot.
二人は結婚の絆で結ばれた。
The two were tied in the knot of marriage.
To tie the knot (of marriage/fate). A common phrase for forming a marital bond.
彼らは先月縁を結んだ。
They tied the knot last month.
結び目 implies an intentionally tied knot. For accidental tangles (hair, thread), use もつれ or 絡まり.
結び目 is a deliberate knot; もつれ is an accidental tangle. Using 結び目 for tangled hair would sound like you tied your hair in knots on purpose.
靴ひもに結び目がある。
There's a knot in my shoelace.
髪がもつれている。
My hair is full of knots.
船は15ノットで航行していた。
The ship was doing 15 knots.
I untangle the knot in the fishing line.
観光客の一団が通り過ぎた。
A knot of tourists passed by.