Translation guide
The English word "rank" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: position in a hierarchy, a row or line, and the verb meaning to assign a position. It also touches on related senses like quality and smell.
Expressing someone's or something's standing, level, or grade in an ordered system.
A common loanword from English, used widely for rankings in games, companies, and general contexts. It's neutral and easily understood.
彼は会社で高いランクにいます。
He holds a high rank in the company.
このゲームでランクを上げるのは難しい。
It's hard to raise your rank in this game.
Refers to social or professional standing, status, or position. More formal than ランク and often used for people.
彼は社会的地位が高い。
He has a high social rank.
地位を得るために努力した。
He worked hard to attain a high rank.
Used for ranks in military, police, or other structured hierarchies. Also for social classes.
彼は軍の階級が上がった。
He was promoted in military rank.
階級制度は厳しい。
The ranking system is strict.
Specifically refers to ranking order, like in a competition or list. Often used with numbers.
彼の順位は3位だった。
His rank was third place.
順位が下がった。
My rank dropped.
A native Japanese word for rank or grade, often used in traditional contexts like sumo or court ranks. Can sound old-fashioned.
彼は横綱の位に昇進した。
He was promoted to the rank of yokozuna.
Referring to a line of people or things arranged side by side.
The most common word for a row, line, or queue. Used for lines of people, seats, objects, etc.
一番前の列に座った。
I sat in the front rank.
列に並んでください。
Please line up in a rank.
Specifically a line or queue of people waiting. Often implies a long line.
The verb meaning to place someone or something in a particular rank or order.
A common way to say 'to rank' using the loanword plus 付け (attaching). Used for ranking items, people, etc.
応募者をランク付けする。
We rank the applicants.
このレストランは高くランク付けされている。
This restaurant is ranked highly.
Literally 'attach a ranking', used for assigning positions in a list or competition.
選手に順位をつける。
We rank the players.
Means to position or rank something within a broader context, often abstract. More formal.
Describing something as being of the highest rank, excellent, or first-rate.
Means first-class, top-ranking. Used for people, companies, products, etc.
彼は一流のシェフだ。
He is a chef of the highest rank.
一流企業に就職したい。
I want to work for a top-rank company.
A straightforward compound meaning 'high rank'. Common in gaming and informal contexts.
高ランクのプレイヤーと対戦した。
I played against a high-rank player.
Describing a strong, offensive smell.
The standard word for a bad smell, stench. Not specifically 'rank' but covers the meaning.
部屋に悪臭が漂っている。
A rank odor hangs in the room.
An adjective meaning smelly, stinky. Can be used for rank smells. Often attached to nouns (e.g., 汗臭い).
ランク is a general loanword for rank in many contexts (games, companies, quality). 順位 is specifically about order in a list or competition. 地位 refers to social or professional standing, often with connotations of prestige.
ゲームのランクが上がった。
My game rank went up.
マラソンの順位は5位だった。
My rank in the marathon was 5th.
彼は高い地位に就いている。
He holds a high rank (position).
The English 'rank' meaning a strong unpleasant smell does not translate to ランク. Use 悪臭 or 臭い instead.
店の前に長い行列ができていた。
There was a long rank of people in front of the store.
この研究は重要なものと位置づけられている。
This research is ranked as important.
That meat is rank.