Translation guide
The English word 'mosaic' can refer to an art form, a pattern, or a metaphorical combination of diverse elements. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is モザイク, a loanword used for both art and digital pixelation. For traditional mosaic art, 寄せ木細工 (wood mosaic) or モザイク画 may be used. Metaphorical uses often employ 寄せ集め or パッチワーク.
Referring to a picture or pattern produced by arranging small colored pieces of hard material, such as stone, tile, or glass.
The most common and general term for mosaic in art, architecture, and digital contexts. It is a loanword from English.
The floor is decorated with a beautiful mosaic.
Specifically a mosaic picture or painting. Emphasizes the pictorial aspect.
There is a mosaic on the church wall.
Traditional Japanese wood mosaic or marquetry. Used for intricate wooden patterns, not stone or tile.
A digital effect that obscures part of an image by making it blocky, often used for censorship or privacy.
The standard term for digital pixelation. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to pixelate'.
Put a mosaic over the face.
A metaphorical mosaic: a mixture or patchwork of different things forming a whole.
A collection or jumble of various things. Can have a slightly negative nuance of being haphazard.
This city is a mosaic of various cultures.
Patchwork; often used metaphorically for a mosaic of different elements, especially in creative or social contexts.
Also used metaphorically, especially in academic or formal contexts, to describe a composite whole.
A plant virus disease causing mottled leaves.
Specifically 'mosaic disease' in botany. Used for plants like tobacco or cucumber.
The cucumber got mosaic disease.
While モザイク can be used metaphorically, 寄せ集め or パッチワーク often sound more natural for describing a mixture of things. モザイク in metaphorical sense is more formal or academic.
In digital contexts, モザイク is the only common term. The verb is モザイクをかける or モザイク処理する.
Hakone's wood mosaic is famous.
This part has been pixelated.
This novel is a patchwork of various stories.
この国は多民族のモザイクである。
This country is a mosaic of many ethnic groups.