Translation guide
The activity or sport of traveling on water in a boat with sails, or the act of a ship departing. In Japanese, the most common word is セーリング for the sport, while 航海 and 航行 are used for voyages and navigation. For a ship's departure, 出航 and 出帆 are used.
セーリングが好きです。
I like sailing.
船はアメリカへ航行中です。
The ship is sailing to America.
The recreational or competitive activity of using a sailboat.
The most common and direct translation for the sport of sailing. Used in contexts like sailing clubs, competitions, and as a hobby.
週末はいつもセーリングを楽しんでいます。
I always enjoy sailing on weekends.
彼はセーリングの経験が豊富です。
He has a lot of experience in sailing.
Often used in compounds like ヨット遊び (yacht play) or ヨットに乗る (to ride a yacht) to refer to sailing as a leisure activity. Note that ヨット primarily means 'yacht', but in context it implies sailing.
夏休みにヨットをしに行きませんか？
Would you like to go sailing during summer vacation?
Literally 'sail running', a technical term for sailing as a means of propulsion. Used in nautical contexts or formal writing.
帆走競技はオリンピックの種目です。
Sailing competition is an Olympic event.
Traveling over water, especially a long journey, often by a large vessel.
Refers to a sea voyage or navigation. Commonly used for long journeys, cruises, or historical voyages.
彼は世界一周の航海に出た。
He set out on a sailing trip around the world.
大航海時代には多くの探検家が航海した。
During the Age of Discovery, many explorers sailed.
Navigation or sailing, often used for ships or aircraft. More formal and technical than 航海, and can refer to the act of navigating a route.
A journey by ship, emphasizing the travel experience. Often used for cruises or leisurely voyages.
The act of a ship leaving port.
Departure of a ship. Commonly used for scheduled departures of ferries, cruise ships, etc.
フェリーは午後3時に出航します。
The ferry sails at 3 p.m.
Literally 'setting sail', specifically for sailing ships. Less common in modern contexts but used historically or poetically.
航海 (こうかい) emphasizes the journey or voyage aspect, often with a sense of adventure or history. 航行 (こうこう) is more technical and refers to the act of navigating or cruising, and can be used for both ships and aircraft.
In English, 'sailing' can refer to any departure by ship, but in Japanese, セーリング is specifically the sport. For a ferry departure, use 出航 (しゅっこう). For a cruise, use 航海 (こうかい) or クルーズ.
その船は太平洋を航行中です。
The ship is sailing across the Pacific Ocean.
船旅は飛行機より時間がかかりますが、楽しいです。
Sailing takes longer than flying, but it's enjoyable.
帆船が港を出帆した。
The sailing ship set sail from the harbor.