Translation guide
The English word "quarter" has several distinct meanings, including one-fourth of something, a 25-cent coin, a three-month period, and a district of a city. This guide covers the most common ways to express these in Japanese, organized by meaning.
Expressing the fraction 1/4 or a quarter of something.
The standard way to say 'one quarter' as a fraction. Literally 'one of four parts'.
I ate a quarter of the cake.
A quarter of the participants were women.
Used specifically for a quarter of a year in business or financial contexts. Not for general fractions.
Sales in the first quarter were strong.
Often used in statistics or when percentages are more natural. Equivalent to one quarter.
About a quarter of the people agreed.
Referring to the coin worth 25 cents.
The standard term for a quarter coin. Often shortened to '25セント' in conversation.
Please give me four quarters.
I put a quarter into the vending machine.
Loanword from English, understood but less common than the descriptive term. Used in contexts like coin collecting or when speaking English-influenced Japanese.
Referring to a period of three months, especially in business, academic, or financial contexts.
The standard term for a fiscal or calendar quarter. Used in business reports, earnings, etc.
Let's make a plan for the next quarter.
Literally 'three months'. Used in everyday contexts when not referring to formal business quarters.
I get a health checkup every quarter (every three months).
Referring to a specific part of a city, often with a distinct character.
General word for district, zone, or area. Can be used for residential, commercial, or historical quarters.
There are many old temples in this quarter.
A new shop opened in the commercial quarter.
Often used for a lively or distinctive quarter, like a shopping or entertainment district. Can also mean 'town'.
More formal or administrative term for a zone or area. Used in official contexts.
Showing mercy or sparing an enemy's life. Rare in modern English, but sometimes encountered in historical contexts.
四半期 (しはんき) is specifically a three-month period in business or fiscal contexts. 四分の一 (よんぶんのいち) is the general fraction 'one quarter'. Do not use 四半期 for a quarter of a cake or distance.
They announced the second quarter financial results.
I ate a quarter of the pizza.
The loanword クォーター is only used for the coin or occasionally in sports (e.g., quarterfinal). It is not used to mean 'one fourth' in general. Use 四分の一 instead.
Intended: A quarter of the people opposed.
このクォーターは珍しい。
This quarter is rare.
This quarter's profits are the highest ever.
It's a district famous for its student quarter.
Parking is prohibited in this quarter.
A quarter of the people opposed.