Translation guide
The English word 'net' has several distinct meanings: a mesh material, the internet, a financial concept, and more. This guide breaks down each meaning and provides natural Japanese equivalents.
A fabric made of threads or wires with spaces between them, used for catching things or as a barrier.
General word for net or mesh. Can refer to fishing nets, insect nets, or netting material.
漁師は網を海に投げた。
The fisherman cast his net into the sea.
虫取り網で蝶を捕まえた。
I caught a butterfly with a butterfly net.
Loanword from English, often used for sports nets (tennis, volleyball) or safety nets.
テニスのネットが破れている。
The tennis net is torn.
The global computer network; the online world.
Short for インターネット. Very common in casual and everyday speech.
ネットで調べてみるよ。
I'll look it up on the net.
ネットが遅くて動画が見られない。
The net is slow and I can't watch videos.
Used in compounds like ウェブサイト (website). Not used alone as 'the net'.
ウェブサイトを作成する。
Create a website.
Remaining after deductions; opposite of gross.
Means net weight, net amount, or net price. Used in business contexts.
正味の利益はいくらですか？
What is the net profit?
この肉の正味重量は200グラムです。
The net weight of this meat is 200 grams.
Loanword used in finance, e.g., ネット収入 (net income).
Prefix meaning 'net' or 'pure', used in compounds like 純利益 (net profit). More formal.
純利益は予想を上回った。
Net profit exceeded expectations.
To succeed in getting something, especially after effort.
To catch, capture. Used for fish, animals, or abstract things like opportunities.
チャンスを捕らえる。
Net an opportunity.
To acquire, gain. Often used for contracts, deals, or prizes.
新規契約を獲得した。
We netted a new contract.
The final outcome after considering all factors.
Adverb meaning 'in the end' or 'after all'. Used to express the net result.
結局、何も変わらなかった。
The net result was that nothing changed.
Can also mean 'net result' or 'in effect', similar to 'practically'.
The phrase 'surf the net' is not directly translated. Use ネットを見る (net o miru) or ネットサーフィンをする (netto sāfin o suru).
ネットサーフィンをして時間を潰した。
I surfed the net to kill time.
網 (ami) is the traditional Japanese word for net and is used for fishing, insects, and general mesh. ネット (netto) is a loanword often used for sports nets, safety nets, and the internet. For fishing nets, 網 is more natural.
Full word for the internet. Slightly more formal than ネット.
インターネットの普及で世界が変わった。
The spread of the internet changed the world.
Net income increased year-on-year.
The net effect was that he wasn't helpful.