Translation guide
The English word "repeating" can be expressed in Japanese through verbs meaning "to repeat," adverbs meaning "repeatedly," or by describing actions done again. The most common and versatile option is 繰り返す (くりかえす).
Expressing the action of repeating something, such as a word, action, or process.
The most common and general verb for 'to repeat.' Can be used for actions, words, mistakes, etc.
Please don't repeat the same thing.
He repeated the same question.
Loanword from English, often used for repeating audio/video, or in casual contexts. Less formal than 繰り返す.
I'm listening to that song on repeat.
Formal or technical term for repetition, often used in academic, scientific, or training contexts.
Repeat the experiment to confirm the results.
Describing an event or action that occurs repeatedly over time.
Passive form of 繰り返す, often used when something is repeated (by someone or something) or happens repeatedly.
The same mistakes are repeated.
Adverb meaning 'often' or 'repeatedly,' implying something happens many times.
Phrase meaning 'many times' or 'over and over,' emphasizing the number of repetitions.
I've heard the same story over and over.
Quoting or echoing what someone else said.
Staying in the same grade for another year due to poor performance.
To repeat a school year. Commonly used for university students, but can apply to other levels.
He didn't have enough credits and had to repeat the year.
While 繰り返す means 'to repeat,' it is not used for repeating a school grade. Use 留年する instead.
繰り返す is the standard, all-purpose verb. リピートする is a loanword often used for media playback or in casual speech. In formal writing, stick to 繰り返す.
彼は度々遅刻する。
He is repeatedly late.
He just parroted back what I said.