Translation guide
The English word "margin" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: the blank space around a page, an amount of difference or leeway, and a profit margin. Other meanings like the edge of a body of water or a deposit in trading are less common and not included here.
The empty area at the top, bottom, or sides of a page.
The standard word for the blank space around the edges of a page, in both physical and digital documents.
I wrote a note in the margin of my notebook.
The margins on this document are too narrow.
A loanword from English, commonly used in computing, design, and printing contexts. Often interchangeable with 余白.
Please set the page margins.
An extra amount of time, space, money, etc. that allows for mistakes or unexpected events; a cushion or safety margin.
The most common word for having extra time, money, or capacity. It implies a comfortable buffer or leeway.
I left home with a margin of time.
There is a little margin in the budget.
Often used for abstract leeway or room for improvement, doubt, negotiation, etc. More formal than 余裕.
Sometimes used in business or technical contexts for a safety margin or tolerance, but 余裕 or 余地 are more natural in general speech.
The difference between the cost of something and the price it is sold for, often expressed as a percentage.
The standard term for profit margin, used in business and economics. Literally 'profit rate'.
The profit margin on this product is high.
Commonly used in business contexts, especially in finance and retail. Often appears in compounds like 粗利マージン (gross margin).
Refers to the spread or margin between buying and selling prices, often used in trading or retail. Less common than 利益率.
The phrase 'margin of error' is usually translated as 誤差 (ごさ) or 誤差範囲 (ごさはんい), not 余白 or マージン. For example: 誤差はプラスマイナス3%です (The margin of error is plus or minus 3%).
余裕 implies a comfortable surplus or buffer (time, money, mental composure). 余地 is more about abstract possibility or room for something to happen. 時間の余裕 (time margin) vs 改善の余地 (room for improvement).
There is room (margin) for improvement.
There is no margin for doubt.
安全マージンを確保する。
Ensure a safety margin.
We need to improve our profit margins.
粗利マージンは20%です。
The gross margin is 20%.
Deal in products with a large margin.