Translation guide
A scrapbook is a book with blank pages where you stick photos, clippings, tickets, and other memorabilia. In Japanese, the most common word is スクラップブック, a direct loanword. There are also native terms like アルバム (often for photos) and 寄せ書き帳 (for messages). This guide helps you choose the right word depending on what you're collecting.
scrapbook (general)
A book where you paste or arrange collected items like photos, newspaper clippings, tickets, etc.
The most direct and common translation. Used for any kind of scrapbook, especially in a hobby context.
I'm making a travel scrapbook.
Often used for photo albums, but can also refer to a scrapbook if it's primarily photos. Less specific than スクラップブック.
A book where multiple people write messages, often for a departing colleague or friend.
Specifically a book for collecting written messages from a group. Common for farewells, retirements, or graduations.
We gave a scrapbook (message book) to our retiring senior colleague.
A more modern, casual term for a message book. Often used for similar purposes as 寄せ書き帳.
The activity or product of creatively decorating pages with photos, stickers, washi tape, etc.
Refers to the craft of scrapbooking itself. Often used as a hobby term.
I enjoy scrapbooking on weekends.
A less common term that combines 'craft' and 'album'. Might be understood in context but not widely used.
I gave a handmade craft album as a present.
スクラップブック implies a book where you stick various items, not just photos. アルバム is primarily a photo album. If your scrapbook is mostly photos, アルバム is fine. If it includes tickets, clippings, etc., use スクラップブック.
I only put photos in this album.
In a scrapbook, I also paste tickets and pamphlets.
スクラップ alone means 'scrap' (as in discarded material) or 'news clipping'. It does not mean scrapbook. Always use スクラップブック for the book.
子どもの成長をアルバムにまとめました。
I compiled my child's growth into an album.
We exchanged message books at the graduation ceremony.