Translation guide
The English verb 'restart' means to start something again after it has stopped. In Japanese, the most natural way to express this depends on what is being restarted: a machine, a process, an activity, or a system. Common verbs include 再起動する for computers/devices, やり直す for tasks/activities, and 再開する for resuming something that was paused.
restart a computer
restart a task
restart a meeting
To cause a machine, computer, or electronic system to shut down and start again, or to reboot.
The standard term for restarting a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device. It implies a full shutdown and reboot.
Please restart your computer.
My smartphone froze, so I restarted it.
A loanword from English, commonly used in casual or technical contexts for restarting devices, software, or games.
Restart the game.
A slightly more technical or formal phrase meaning 'to initiate a restart', often used in IT contexts.
To begin an activity or task again from the start, often after a failure or interruption.
To continue an activity, process, or event after a temporary stop, without starting over from the beginning.
Means 'to resume' or 'to reopen'. It implies continuing from where you left off, not starting over.
To make a fresh start in life, work, or personal relationships, often after a major change.
再起動 is for machines and systems (reboot). 再開 is for resuming an interrupted activity (continue). やり直す is for redoing a task from the beginning (start over). Choose based on whether you are rebooting, resuming, or redoing.
Restart the computer.
We need to restart the server.
Means 'to do over' or 'to redo'. It implies starting a task or activity again from scratch, often to correct mistakes.
Let's restart from the beginning.
There was a mistake in the documents, so I restarted everything.
Literally 'start from the beginning'. A straightforward phrase for restarting an activity.
It didn't go well, so I'll restart from the beginning.
Used for restarting a match, game, or negotiation, often after a pause or reset. Common in sports or business.
Restart the match.
Let's restart the meeting.
Construction will restart next month.
A hybrid loanword meaning 'to restart' or 'to make a fresh start'. Can imply both resuming and starting anew depending on context.
Turn over a new leaf and restart.
He restarted his life in a new city.
Literally 'redo from one', meaning to start completely over from scratch. Emphasizes a total reset.
After experiencing failure, I decided to restart from scratch.
会議を再開する。
Restart the meeting (resume).
Restart the homework (redo).
リスタート is a loanword mainly used for devices, software, and games. Using it for life or career restarts sounds unnatural. Use 再出発 or やり直し instead.