Translation guide
How to express 'lock up' in Japanese, covering securing doors, imprisoning, and freezing assets.
To fasten a lock so that something cannot be opened without a key or combination.
The most common and natural way to say 'lock up' for doors, windows, lockers, etc. Literally 'apply a key'.
Please be sure to lock the front door before going out.
I forgot to lock up my bicycle.
A formal term for locking, often used in written notices or official contexts.
The front entrance will be locked at night.
Loanword from English, common in casual speech or for electronic devices.
Did you lock your phone?
Literally 'lower the lock', used for certain types of locks like deadbolts or traditional latches.
Please lock the gate at night.
To put a person in a locked room, jail, or psychiatric facility.
To lock someone in a room or confined space. Can be used for both intentional imprisonment and accidental confinement.
He locked the child up in the room.
Formal term for false imprisonment or kidnapping. Used in legal contexts.
He locked the victim up in the basement.
Rough slang for throwing someone into jail or a confined space.
To put money, documents, or valuables in a locked container or secure storage.
To prevent access to money or property, often by legal order.
While 鍵をかける means 'to lock', it is not used for imprisoning people. Use 閉じ込める or 監禁する instead.
I locked him up in the room.
Don't lock the cat out on the balcony.
あいつを刑務所にぶち込め！
Lock that guy up in prison!
We keep the cash locked up.
To seize or attach property, often by legal authority. Implies physical or legal control.
The tax office locked up his wages.