Translation guide
The English word "nest" can refer to a bird's home, a cozy place, or a set of similar things. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
A structure built by birds to lay eggs and raise young.
The most common and general word for a bird's nest. Can also refer to nests of other animals like insects or rodents.
There is a bird's nest in the tree.
A swallow built a nest under the eaves.
Literally "bird's nest". Used when you need to specify it's a bird's nest, or in contexts like bird's nest soup.
I found a bird's nest.
A place where small animals live and breed.
Used for nests of insects (bees, ants), spiders, rodents, etc.
A comfortable, snug place where one feels safe, often used figuratively.
Can be used metaphorically for a cozy home or love nest, but often sounds literary or poetic.
A group of objects that fit inside one another or are stacked.
Refers to a set of nested objects, like boxes or tables that fit inside each other. Often used as a noun modifier.
Money saved for the future.
General word for savings. Not a direct translation of "nest egg", but the most natural way to express the concept.
To place one element inside another in a hierarchy.
Verb phrase meaning "to nest" in a technical sense, like nesting tags or functions.
While 巣 can metaphorically mean a cozy home, it's not common in daily speech. Using it for your own home can sound overly poetic or strange. Stick to 家 (いえ) or 我が家 (わがや) for normal conversation.
入れ子 means objects fit inside each other (like Russian dolls). 重ねる means they are stacked on top of each other (like plates). Use the right one depending on the physical relationship.
The birds built a nest in the tree.
ハチの巣が軒下にある。
There is a wasp nest under the eaves.
Mice are nesting inside the wall.
彼は自分の巣に帰っていった。
He went back to his nest (home).
Literally "love nest", used for a couple's cozy home.
The two set up their love nest in the suburbs.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers rarely use 巣 for their own home. Instead, they say 我が家 (my/our home) or describe it as a comfortable place.
After all, there's no place like home (my nest).
This room is really cozy (like a nest).
nesting tables
a nest of boxes
Verb meaning "to stack" or "to pile up". Used when objects are placed on top of each other, not necessarily fitting inside.
Stack the chairs for storage.
I'm saving for retirement (building a nest egg).
Secret savings, often hidden from one's spouse. Closer to the idea of a personal nest egg.
I'm secretly saving a nest egg without my wife knowing.
In HTML, you can nest elements.
Loanword from English, used in programming contexts.
Nesting functions too much makes the code hard to read.
She has a nice little nest egg saved up.
I bought a nest of tables for the living room.