Translation guide
The English verb 'reap' has two main uses: the literal agricultural sense of harvesting crops, and the figurative sense of receiving consequences or benefits from past actions. This guide covers both, with natural Japanese equivalents.
To cut and gather a crop, especially grain, from a field.
The most direct equivalent for reaping crops like rice or wheat. It implies cutting and gathering.
The farmers are reaping the rice.
A broader term for harvesting any crop, not just cutting. More common in general contexts.
We reap wheat in autumn.
Simply means 'to cut' or 'to mow'. Used for reaping when the cutting action is emphasized, but less specific than 刈り取る.
Reap the grass. (more like 'mow')
To get something as a result of your own or others' actions, often used in phrases like 'reap the benefits/rewards' or 'reap what you sow'.
A natural way to say 'reap the benefits of ~'. Literally 'receive the benefits of ~'.
He reaped the benefits of his hard work.
Means 'to obtain the fruits/results of ~'. Suitable for reaping rewards or outcomes.
A set phrase meaning 'the rust from one's own body', equivalent to 'reap what you sow' in a negative sense. Used when someone suffers consequences of their own actions.
刈り取る specifically refers to cutting and gathering grain crops like rice or wheat. 収穫する is a general term for harvesting any crop, including fruits and vegetables. For figurative uses, neither is used; instead use phrases like 恩恵を受ける.
Harvest tomatoes. (not 刈り取る)
The direct translation '蒔いた種を刈り取る' is understood but sounds unnatural in Japanese. Use 身から出た錆 or 自業自得 for negative consequences, or 努力の成果を得る for positive ones.
We reaped the rewards of years of research.
His failure is reaping what he sowed.
A four-character idiom meaning 'self-inflicted', often used like 'you reap what you sow'.
That's reaping what you sowed.