Translation guide
The quality of being opaque, difficult to see through, or hard to understand. This guide covers physical opacity (not transparent), visual opacity in design, and figurative opacity (obscurity of meaning).
Describing something that light cannot pass through; the opposite of transparent.
The most direct and common word for physical opacity. Used for materials, glass, liquids, etc.
This glass is opaque.
An opaque liquid is in the container.
Technical term for opacity, often used in physics or optics. Less common in everyday speech.
This material is opaque to light.
Referring to the opacity property in graphic design, CSS, or image editing.
Standard term for opacity as a measurable property (e.g., 0% to 100%). Used in software and design contexts.
Set the opacity to 50%.
Lower the opacity of this layer.
Literally 'transparency degree', but often used in technical settings to discuss opacity/transparency levels. Can be ambiguous, so 不透明度 is preferred for opacity.
Adjust the opacity of the image.
Describing language, writing, or meaning that is difficult to comprehend; lack of clarity.
Means 'hard to understand', 'abstruse'. Commonly used for complex texts, theories, or explanations.
His paper is abstruse and its content is opaque.
Also used figuratively to mean 'unclear', 'vague', or 'obscure'. Often appears in news about politics or business when information is not disclosed.
Means 'ambiguous' or 'vague'. Overlaps with opacity when meaning is unclear, but focuses on lack of precision rather than deliberate obscurity.
Literary term for 'obscure' or 'abstruse', often used for writing style. Strongly implies intentional complexity.
不透明 (futoumei) is the most versatile, covering physical opacity and figurative lack of clarity. 曖昧 (aimai) means ambiguous/vague, often for statements or boundaries. 難解 (nankai) means difficult to understand, used for complex content. For 'opacity' in the sense of 'hard to see through', 不透明 is the best default.
The glass is opaque and I can't see inside.
His explanation was opaque (ambiguous) and I couldn't understand.
This philosophy book is too opaque (hard to understand).
The loanword オパシティ (opashiti) is sometimes used in technical design contexts (e.g., Photoshop), but it is not a natural Japanese word for everyday opacity. Stick to 不透明 or 不透明度.
Opaque legal jargon should be avoided.
The company's future plans are opaque.
An opaque decision-making process.
彼の返事は曖昧で、何を言いたいのかわからない。
His reply was opaque; I don't know what he wants to say.
A novel written in an opaque style.