Translation guide
The English word "repose" covers several distinct meanings: physical rest, mental calm, peaceful death, and the act of placing trust or confidence. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese equivalents for each.
To express the state of resting, lying down, or being at ease physically.
General term for rest or break from activity. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts.
Let's take a short rest.
Rest for recuperation, often implying a longer period to recover health or strength.
The doctor recommended plenty of rest.
A sense of peace and comfort, often emotional or spiritual, but can refer to physical ease.
She found repose on the sofa.
Literally 'to lie down', a common way to express taking a rest by lying down.
I'm tired, so I'll lie down for a bit.
To express a state of mental peace, serenity, or freedom from worry.
Calmness, composure, serenity. Often used for mental state.
He maintained his mental repose.
Peace of mind, relief from anxiety. More everyday than 平静.
Silence, stillness. Can imply a peaceful, quiet atmosphere. More literary.
To refer euphemistically to death as a state of rest.
A common euphemism for dying, literally 'to enter eternal sleep'.
He passed away (entered eternal repose).
To sleep peacefully, often used for the deceased. 'Rest in peace' equivalent.
Formal term for 'eternal sleep', used in obituaries or solemn contexts.
To express the act of relying on or entrusting something to someone.
The English word 'repose' is often literary or formal. In everyday Japanese, simply use 休む (rest) or 横になる (lie down) instead of trying to find a direct equivalent. Using 休息 is acceptable but may sound slightly stiff in casual conversation.
安らぎ (yasuragi) implies a warm, emotional peace, while 平静 (heisei) is more about a composed, unruffled state of mind. Use 安らぎ for comfort and 平静 for calmness under pressure.
The statue reposes on a marble pedestal.
安置 means 'to be placed/set' in a resting position, often for objects.
その知らせを聞いて安心した。
I felt a sense of repose after hearing the news.
夜の静寂が心を癒した。
The repose of the night soothed my heart.
I pray that the deceased may repose in peace.
彼は昨夜永眠されました。
He passed away last night (entered eternal repose).
決定を彼に委ねた。
I reposed the decision in him.
He reposes on his friends.