Translation guide
The English word 'pellet' refers to a small, compressed mass of material, often spherical or cylindrical. In Japanese, the translation depends on the context: shape, material, and purpose. Common equivalents include ペレット for industrial or fuel pellets, 粒 for small grains or particles, and 弾丸 for airgun pellets.
A small, usually cylindrical or spherical piece of compressed material, such as wood, plastic, or feed.
The most direct loanword for 'pellet' in industrial, fuel, or feed contexts. Widely understood.
このストーブは木質ペレットを使います。
This stove uses wood pellets.
プラスチックペレットを原料として使う。
Use plastic pellets as raw material.
General word for 'grain' or 'small round object'. Can describe pellets when shape is emphasized, but less specific than ペレット.
肥料の粒をまく。
Scatter fertilizer pellets.
A tiny, often spherical particle, like a grain of rice or a pill.
Used for small, grain-like objects. Common in food and medicine contexts.
この薬は小さな粒です。
This medicine comes in small pellets.
ごまの粒が入っている。
It contains sesame seeds (pellets).
Technical term for 'granule' or 'pellet', often used in pharmaceutical or chemical contexts.
A small metal or plastic projectile shot from an airgun or slingshot.
General term for 'bullet' or 'projectile'. Used for airgun pellets.
エアガンの弾丸を装填する。
Load the airgun pellets.
Also used for airgun pellets, especially in hobbyist contexts.
Specifically refers to spherical plastic pellets (BBs) used in airsoft guns.
BB弾を買いに行く。
Go buy some BB pellets.
The indigestible material regurgitated by owls and other birds of prey.
Biological term for owl pellets. Derived from the English word but with a slightly different pronunciation.
フクロウのペリットを解剖する。
Dissect an owl pellet.
While ペレット is common for industrial pellets, it may sound unnatural for small food particles or owl pellets. Use 粒 for grain-like objects and ペリット for owl pellets.
Take the medicine in pellet form.
このペレットは6mmです。
These pellets are 6mm.