Translation guide
The English word "position" covers many meanings, from physical location to job title, stance, and situation. This guide organizes the most useful Japanese equivalents by meaning, helping you choose the right word for each context.
Describing where something or someone is located.
General term for position or location, often used for coordinates, maps, or relative placement.
Please check your current position on the map.
Means place or location, more casual and common for everyday spots.
Loanword from English, used in sports, games, or casual contexts for position or role.
Referring to someone's job title, status, or role in an organization.
Formal term for an official position or post within a company or organization.
Expressing one's stance, attitude, or opinion on an issue.
Means standpoint or position in terms of opinion, situation, or role. Very common.
Describing a state of affairs or condition someone is in.
General word for situation or circumstances.
Referring to how the body is placed or held.
Means posture or bodily position, also used for attitude.
Describing placement in a race, contest, or ranking.
Means ranking or standing in a competition.
位置 is more precise and often used for coordinates or relative position, while 場所 is a general word for place or location. Use 位置 for maps, GPS, or technical contexts; use 場所 for everyday locations.
Check the position with GPS.
Where is the meeting place?
サッカーでの彼のポジションはフォワードです。
His position in soccer is forward.
He holds the position of department manager.
Refers to social standing, status, or rank, often with a nuance of prestige.
He gained a high position in the company.
Means job or employment, often used in compounds like 職に就く (to get a job).
I'm looking for a new position.
Loanword meaning post or position, common in business contexts.
He was appointed to an important position.
Please understand my position.
Refers to attitude or posture, often used for a principled stance.
He always maintains an honest position.
Formal term for opinion or view, used in official statements.
What is the government's position on this issue?
Please explain the current position (situation).
Focuses on state or condition, often physical or mental.
He is in a dangerous position.
Refers to one's circumstances or lot in life, often with emotional nuance.
She grew up in an unfortunate position.
Please sit in a correct position.
Medical or technical term for body position, also used in sexual contexts.
During surgery, you need to maintain a specific position.
He is currently in third position.
Suffix for rank or place, e.g., 1位 (first place).
She took first position.
Let's decide on a meeting place.
ポジション is a loanword and sounds casual or specific to sports/games. In formal or business contexts, use 役職, 地位, or 立場 instead.
She applied for a teaching position.
教職 means teaching position.