Translation guide
A small pad of paper for writing notes or memos. In Japanese, this is commonly referred to with loanwords or descriptive terms, and the most natural choice depends on context.
memo pad (physical)
memo pad (sticky notes)
A small, often adhesive or bound pad used for jotting down reminders or short messages.
The most common and general term for a memo pad or notepad. Can refer to physical or digital memo pads.
I wrote a shopping list on a memo pad.
Refers specifically to sticky notes or adhesive memo pads. Often used for temporary notes attached to documents or surfaces.
I wrote down important things on a sticky note and stuck it on my desk.
Literally 'memo paper', often used for loose sheets or small pads of paper intended for memos.
I jotted down the phone call details on a memo pad.
A more formal or traditional term for a memorandum book or notebook for notes. Less common in everyday speech.
I summarized the meeting points in a memo pad.
A software application or feature on a device for writing short notes.
Also used for digital memo pads, such as the Notepad app in Windows or note-taking apps on smartphones.
I typed my idea into the memo pad on my smartphone.
Often used for digital note-taking apps, though it can also mean a physical notebook. Context clarifies the medium.
メモ帳 is the most versatile and common term for any memo pad, including digital. 付箋 specifically refers to sticky notes with adhesive. メモ用紙 is more about the paper itself, often loose sheets or small pads without binding.
When referring to a digital memo pad, メモ帳 is the standard term, especially for simple text-based note apps. For more feature-rich note apps, ノートアプリ or just ノート may be used.
このアプリのノート機能で簡単にメモが取れる。
You can easily take memos with the note feature of this app.