Translation guide
A high point of land that juts out into a body of water. In Japanese, the most common word is 岬 (misaki), but other terms exist for specific types or literary contexts.
The most common way to refer to a promontory in everyday Japanese, suitable for most contexts including travel, geography, and casual conversation.
The standard word for a cape, promontory, or headland. Used in place names and general descriptions.
あの岬の先に灯台があります。
There is a lighthouse at the tip of that promontory.
岬からの眺めは素晴らしいです。
The view from the cape is wonderful.
Often used in proper nouns (e.g., 長崎 Nagasaki) or older place names. Can mean a small cape or point. Less common as a standalone word.
長崎は美しい港町です。
Nagasaki is a beautiful port town.
Used in more formal, literary, or geographical contexts to describe a large, imposing promontory or headland.
A formal geographical term for a cape or promontory. Rare in everyday speech.
その岬角は地図上で重要な目印です。
That promontory is an important landmark on the map.
Literally 'sea horn', a literary term for a cape or promontory. Very rare.
Many Japanese place names include 崎, such as 長崎 (Nagasaki) or 宮崎 (Miyazaki). These often refer to historical capes or points, but in modern usage they are simply city or prefecture names.
The poet stood on the promontory and gazed at the sunset.