Translation guide
The English word "nick" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: a small cut, a notch or groove, stealing something, and British slang for police station or arrest. Other rare or technical meanings are omitted.
To express a minor cut or scratch on skin or a surface.
General term for a cut or incision, often used for small cuts.
紙で指に小さな切り傷ができた。
I got a small nick on my finger from the paper.
Specifically a scratch or graze, like a superficial nick.
転んでひざにかすり傷ができた。
I fell and got a nick on my knee.
General word for wound or injury; can be used for a nick, but less specific.
剃刀で小さな傷をつけた。
I nicked myself with the razor.
To describe a small cut or indentation made on an object, often for marking or fitting.
A notch or nick cut into something, like a tally mark.
棒に刻み目を入れて数を数えた。
I counted by making nicks on a stick.
A cut or notch, often deeper or more deliberate.
Loanword from English, used in technical contexts like volume knobs or settings.
To express stealing something, especially in a casual or petty way.
Standard verb for stealing; can be used for nicking something.
誰かが私の財布を盗んだ。
Someone nicked my wallet.
Casual, slightly slangy verb for pilfering or swiping something small.
Very casual slang for stealing or swiping; can also mean copying or plagiarizing.
あいつ、俺のアイデアをパクった。
That guy nicked my idea.
To refer to a police station or being arrested, as in British English slang.
Standard word for police station. Use this for clarity.
彼は警察署に連れて行かれた。
He was taken to the nick.
Noun for arrest. Use with される for 'get nicked'.
Colloquial phrase meaning 'get caught by the police', similar to 'get nicked'.
スピード違反でおまわりさんに捕まった。
I got nicked for speeding.
The British slang meaning 'police station' or 'arrest' is not directly translatable into Japanese slang. Use standard terms like 警察署 or 逮捕. Avoid literal translations like ニック, which is not understood.
切り傷 (kirikizu) is a cut, while かすり傷 (kasurikizu) is a scratch. For a very minor nick, かすり傷 may be more natural. 傷 (kizu) is a general term for any injury.
木に切り込みを入れる。
Make a nick in the wood.
Adjust the volume by nicks.
彼は店からお菓子をくすねた。
He nicked some candy from the store.
He got nicked for shoplifting.