Translation guide
The English word 'novelty' covers several related ideas: newness, originality, a small unusual item, and the quality of being novel. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
The quality of being new, original, or different from what came before.
The most direct translation for the abstract quality of newness. Used for ideas, designs, approaches, etc.
The novelty of this design was praised.
Emphasizes the visual or perceptual freshness, often implying something catches the eye because it's new.
That idea lacks novelty.
A more formal or literary term for novelty, often used in academic or technical contexts.
The novelty of this research is acknowledged.
A small manufactured object, often a toy or trinket, that is novel or amusing.
A loanword from English, commonly used for promotional items, small gifts, or novelty goods.
I got a novelty item at the event.
A rare or curious item, often with a sense of being unusual or collectible.
Something unusual or eccentric, often used for quirky items or oddities.
The appeal or interest that comes from something being new, which may wear off.
The quality of being curious or interesting because it's new or rare. Often implies the novelty will fade.
At first people gathered out of novelty, but they soon got bored.
The feeling of freshness or novelty, often used when something loses its appeal over time.
The requirement that an invention or idea must be new and not previously known.
The standard term in patent law and academic research for novelty.
This invention lacks novelty.
The English word 'novelty' is a noun. The adjective 'novel' is usually translated as 斬新な (zanshin na) or 新しい (atarashii). Avoid using ノベルティ for the adjective sense.
新しさ is the general term for newness. 目新しさ emphasizes visual or perceptual novelty. 新奇さ is formal and often used in academic contexts. For everyday use, 新しさ is safest.
This idea has novelty.
The design lacks visual novelty.
The novelty of the situation made everyone nervous.
He bought a cheap novelty at the souvenir shop.
彼は世界中の珍品を集めている。
He collects novelties from around the world.
This shop has a lot of interesting novelties.
The game quickly lost its novelty.