Translation guide
How to express 'phrase' in Japanese, covering set expressions, idioms, grammatical phrases, and ways to refer to wording or expressions.
A commonly used fixed combination of words, like an idiom or saying.
Standard term for idiomatic phrases or set expressions.
"Neko no te mo karitai" is an idiomatic phrase.
Refers to established phrases or set expressions, often used in linguistic contexts.
A clichéd or fixed phrase, often used in conversation or writing.
A group of words functioning as a unit in a sentence, like a noun phrase or verb phrase.
Linguistic term for a phrase or clause.
A particular way of saying something, often focusing on the choice of words.
A short musical passage or segment.
Technical term for a musical phrase.
慣用句 is the most common term for idiomatic phrases. 成句 is more formal and often used in dictionaries or linguistic studies. 決まり文句 implies a clichéd or overused phrase.
"Atama ga agaranai" is an idiomatic phrase.
What does this phrase mean?
Please look up the meaning of this set phrase.
His speech was full of clichéd phrases.
この文の名詞句を指摘してください。
Please point out the noun phrase in this sentence.
Loanword from English, commonly used for a phrase or expression in everyday language.
It's useful to remember this phrase.
Refers to a turn of phrase or way of expressing something.
You should change it to a more polite phrasing.
General term for expression, can refer to a phrase or way of putting something.
That expression is a bit stiff.
この楽句をもう一度演奏してください。
Please play this musical phrase once more.
Also used in music contexts, same as the loanword above.
This phrase is the highlight of the song.
この成句は古い文献によく出てきます。
This set phrase often appears in old literature.
His greetings are always the same clichéd phrases.
フレーズ is a casual, everyday word for 'phrase' and is widely understood. It can be used for both linguistic and musical contexts, but in formal writing, 句 or 慣用句 may be preferred.
How do you say this English phrase in Japanese?
He used a strange phrase.
That's just a set phrase.