Translation guide
Sediment refers to solid material that settles at the bottom of a liquid. In Japanese, the most common word is 沈殿物 (ちんでんぶつ), but other terms are used depending on context, such as dregs in drinks or silt in rivers.
The learner wants to refer to solid particles that have settled at the bottom of any liquid, such as in a container, a natural body of water, or a chemical process.
The standard, neutral term for sediment in scientific, technical, and everyday contexts. It refers to matter that has settled out of a liquid.
Sediment has accumulated at the bottom of the wine bottle.
The water of this river contains a lot of sediment.
Often used in geology or geography for sediment that has been deposited over time, such as river sediment or sedimentary layers. It emphasizes accumulation rather than just settling.
Thick sediment has accumulated at the river mouth.
Refers specifically to sediment or dregs in liquids like sake, wine, or soy sauce. It has a traditional or culinary nuance.
Remove the sediment from the sake.
The learner wants to talk about the solid bits left at the bottom of a cup of coffee, tea, or other beverages.
Common word for dregs, grounds, or lees. Used for coffee grounds, tea leaves, and other residues. Often written in kana.
Coffee grounds are left at the bottom of the cup.
Please throw away the tea dregs.
Can also be used for drink sediment, but sounds more formal or technical. Use かす for everyday situations.
The learner wants to describe fine sand, mud, or silt carried by rivers or settled in lakes.
General word for mud or silt. Often used for sediment in rivers, ponds, or after rain.
Mud has accumulated on the riverbed.
Refers to earth and sand, often used in contexts of sediment transport, landslides, or dredging. More technical than 泥.
Used in geological or environmental contexts for deposited sediment layers.
沈殿物 is the most general term for sediment that has settled. 堆積物 emphasizes accumulation over time, often in geological contexts. 澱 is specific to traditional beverages like sake and has a culinary nuance.
When talking about coffee grounds or tea leaves, do not use 沈殿物; it sounds overly technical. Use かす for everyday dregs.
You don't need to worry about the sediment in the wine.
Sediment is accumulating in the dam.
This stratum is made of ancient sediment.