Translation guide
The English word 'series' covers a range of meanings from TV shows and book collections to sequences of events. Japanese uses different words depending on what kind of series you mean.
A set of television or radio programs with the same characters or theme, broadcast regularly.
The most common and versatile loanword for any kind of series, including TV dramas, anime, and book series.
This drama series is very popular.
Specifically a TV drama series that airs consecutive episodes, often weekly. More formal than シリーズ.
A new drama series is starting.
A set of books, novels, or manga published sequentially, often with a continuing story.
A number of events or actions happening one after another.
Means 'a series of' or 'a string of', used for events, incidents, problems, etc. Often used in news.
The police are investigating the series of incidents.
Means 'consecutive' or 'successive', often used as a prefix or in compounds like 連続殺人 (serial murders).
Can be used for events, but sounds slightly more like a planned set rather than random occurrences.
A group of related products released under a common name, like a car series or a limited edition series.
Standard for product lines, model series, etc.
This car is part of a new series.
A sum of a sequence of terms in mathematics.
The technical term for a mathematical series.
Find the sum of the infinite series.
シリーズ is a loanword and feels more like a branded or planned set (TV series, book series, product line). 連続 emphasizes things happening one after another without a gap, often used for events or actions (連続ドラマ is an exception, meaning a serial drama). Use 一連の for 'a series of' when describing a string of related incidents or problems.
A series of mistakes delayed the project.
While シリーズ is widely understood, using it for a series of natural events (like earthquakes) can sound odd. Use 一連の or 連続 instead.
I've read all of this author's series.
連続して事故が起きた。
A series of accidents occurred.
その講演会はシリーズで行われます。
The lecture series will be held as a series.