Translation guide
Describes something temporary, improvised, or used as a substitute because the proper thing is not available. Japanese expresses this through adjectives, nouns, and verbs that emphasize urgency, substitution, or rough-and-ready solutions.
Describing something used temporarily because the proper thing is unavailable, often with a sense of being rough or hastily put together.
A noun meaning a stopgap or makeshift. Often used in the phrase 間に合わせの〜 to modify another noun. Implies something done to meet an immediate need, not necessarily of high quality.
Focusing on the action of creating a makeshift solution or managing with what's available.
間に合わせ is a general term for a makeshift item or action, often neutral. 急場しのぎ emphasizes urgency and is more about coping with a crisis. Use 急場しのぎ when the situation is pressing.
間に合わせの傘を使った。
I used a makeshift umbrella.
急場しのぎにビニール袋をかぶった。
As a makeshift, I put on a plastic bag.
English 'makeshift' is often translated directly as メイクシフト, but this is not natural Japanese. Use the expressions above instead.
間に合わせの避難所を作った。
We built a makeshift shelter.
それは単なる間に合わせの解決策だ。
It's just a makeshift solution.
これは間に合わせの道具です。
This is a makeshift tool.
間に合わせの修理でなんとか動いた。
It worked somehow with a makeshift repair.
A noun meaning a temporary measure or stopgap, often used in urgent situations. Slightly more formal than 間に合わせ.
それは急場しのぎの策に過ぎない。
That's just a makeshift measure.
A prefix meaning temporary or provisional. Attaches to nouns to indicate something makeshift, like 仮住まい (temporary housing) or 仮設 (temporary construction).
仮のテントで一夜を過ごした。
We spent the night in a makeshift tent.
A noun meaning something made from whatever is on hand. Often used for meals or objects assembled from available materials.
あり合わせの材料で料理を作った。
I cooked with makeshift ingredients.
A verb meaning to make do with something or to manage with a substitute. Often used when you use an imperfect item to get by.
これで間に合わせてください。
Please make do with this for now.
古い道具で間に合わせた。
I made do with old tools.
A verb phrase meaning to tide over an emergency or to cope with a crisis temporarily. More urgent than 間に合わせる.
応急処置で急場をしのいだ。
We made a makeshift fix to get through the crisis.
Literally 'to do a place-avoidance', meaning to improvise on the spot without a long-term plan. Often carries a negative nuance of a patch-up job.
その場しのぎの対応では問題は解決しない。
A makeshift response won't solve the problem.