Translation guide
Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, often discussed in environmental, health, or technical contexts.
Referring to particulate matter in air pollution, environmental science, or everyday discussion of dust and smoke.
Standard technical term for particulate matter, used in environmental reports and news.
The concentration of particulate matter exceeded the standard value.
Abbreviation commonly used in Japan, especially PM2.5 for fine particles.
There is a lot of PM2.5 today, so please wear a mask.
General term for fine particles, often used in science and everyday contexts.
Fine particles in the air affect health.
Formal term for suspended particulate matter, used in regulatory and scientific contexts.
The measurement method for suspended particulate matter has been revised.
Referring to the health hazard of very small particles, often in news and daily conversation.
Official Japanese term for PM2.5, used in government advisories.
A PM2.5 advisory has been issued.
Commonly used in everyday speech and media; well understood.
My throat hurts because of PM2.5.
Yellow sand from deserts, often containing particulate matter; seasonal phenomenon.
Describing visible particles like dust, soot, or smoke in a non-technical way.
General word for dust; covers household dust and airborne particles.
Dust is floating in the room.
Soot and smoke from combustion, often used in environmental contexts.
Industrial or fine dust, often in occupational health contexts.
粒子状物質 is the formal technical term for all particulate matter. PM2.5 specifically refers to fine particles ≤2.5 micrometers. ほこり is everyday dust, not necessarily a health hazard. Use PM2.5 in news/health contexts, ほこり for cleaning, and 粒子状物質 in scientific reports.
In conversation, PM2.5 is widely recognized and often used instead of the full term 微小粒子状物質. You can simply say 'PM2.5が多い' to mean 'there's a lot of particulate matter.'
黄砂が飛来して、車が汚れた。
Yellow sand blew in and made the car dirty.
工場からの煤煙が大気汚染の原因だ。
Soot and smoke from factories cause air pollution.
粉塵爆発を防ぐために換気が必要だ。
Ventilation is necessary to prevent dust explosions.