Translation guide
The English word "revelation" covers a range of meanings from a surprising disclosure to a divine truth. This guide breaks down the most useful Japanese expressions for each nuance, helping you choose the right word for the context.
To express that something previously unknown or secret has been made known, often causing surprise or a dramatic change in understanding.
Refers to the act of exposing or revealing something hidden, often a scandal, secret, or wrongdoing. Commonly used in news and everyday conversation.
His past crimes were revealed.
That exposé article caused a huge stir.
Means coming to light or being discovered, especially for secrets, crimes, or hidden facts. Often used when something is found out rather than intentionally revealed.
The fraud came to light and the president resigned.
A confession or personal revelation, often of feelings, secrets, or past actions. Common in romantic contexts or when someone admits something personal.
She confessed her love to him.
A revelation in the sense of a sudden insight or enlightenment, often intellectual or spiritual. Can sound literary or philosophical.
That book was a great revelation to me.
To refer to a truth or message revealed by a god, spirit, or supernatural force, often in a religious context.
The standard term for divine revelation in religious contexts, such as God revealing truth to humans. Used in Christianity, Islam, etc.
The Bible is believed to be divine revelation.
Literally 'heavenly revelation', often used for a sudden divine inspiration or message from heaven. Slightly more literary or dramatic.
A message from a god or spirit, often delivered through an oracle, dream, or medium. Common in Shinto and folk beliefs.
Refers specifically to apocalyptic revelation, as in the Book of Revelation (黙示録). Not used for general divine messages.
To refer specifically to the final book of the New Testament, the Apocalypse of John.
To describe a sudden understanding or discovery that changes one's perspective, often in a non-religious, personal context.
A discovery or realization. While it often translates as 'discovery', it can convey the sense of a personal revelation when something becomes clear.
His words gave me a new revelation.
An awareness or realization, often about something previously unnoticed. Very common in daily conversation for personal insights.
An idiom meaning 'the scales fall from one's eyes', used when a sudden revelation completely changes one's understanding.
暴露 (ばくろ) implies an active disclosure, often by someone (e.g., a whistleblower or media). 発覚 (はっかく) focuses on the fact that something hidden has come to light, without necessarily specifying who revealed it. Use 暴露 for exposés and 発覚 for discoveries of wrongdoing.
The misconduct was exposed by a whistleblower.
The misconduct came to light during the audit.
啓示 (けいじ) is primarily for divine or profound intellectual revelations. Using it for a minor surprise or gossipy disclosure would sound overly dramatic or unnatural. Stick to 暴露 or 発覚 for scandals, and 気づき for personal realizations.
The revelation of his secret affair shocked everyone.
For me, that documentary was a real revelation.
The Book of Revelation is difficult to interpret.
彼は天啓を受けたかのように語った。
He spoke as if he had received a divine revelation.
I received a divine message at the shrine.
The Revelation of John is the last book of the New Testament.
The Revelation of John contains many symbolic expressions.
This experience gave me a big revelation.
When I heard that explanation, it was a revelation.