Translation guide
A guide to expressing the many meanings of 'set' in Japanese, organized by practical English usage.
Referring to a complete set of things, like tools, dishes, or a series.
Used for a complete set of items, often with a counter or noun. Common for tools, furniture, documents, etc.
I bought a set of tools.
Loanword from English, used for sets in many contexts: makeup, TV, meal combos, etc. Very versatile.
Often used for pairs or sets of things that come together, like a tea set, a set of dishes, or a pair of something.
Placing an object in a specific location or position.
General verb for putting or placing something somewhere. Very common.
Setting a clock, alarm, thermostat, or other controls.
Loanword used for setting devices, alarms, timers, etc. Very common in daily life.
Setting rules, records, goals, dates, prices, etc.
To decide or set something like a date, rule, or goal. Very common.
Setting a table, setting up a room, preparing something for use.
When a liquid becomes solid, like jelly, concrete, or glue.
To harden, solidify, or set. Used for jelly, concrete, glue, etc.
When the sun or moon disappears below the horizon.
Used for the sun, moon, or other celestial bodies setting.
Describing something that is set, fixed, or predetermined, like a set phrase or a set menu.
Fixed, set, or regular. Used for routines, phrases, patterns.
The English word 'set' has many meanings that do not map one-to-one with Japanese. Always consider the specific meaning you want to convey and choose the appropriate Japanese expression. Using セットする for everything will sound unnatural.
置く (oku) is the general verb for placing something. 据える (sueru) implies placing something firmly or installing it. Use 据える for heavy objects or equipment that are meant to stay in place.
The loanword セット is very common in modern Japanese for sets of items, device settings, and meal combos. It's safe to use in casual and semi-formal contexts, but in formal writing, consider native Japanese alternatives like 一式 or 設定.
The concrete will set in a few hours.
Please submit the set of documents.
This makeup set is a good deal.
I'll have a hamburger set (combo).
I received a tea set.
机の上に本を置いた。
I set the book on the desk.
To set or place something firmly, often used for installing equipment or setting something in a fixed position.
I set the TV on the stand.
I set the alarm for 7 o'clock.
Please set the air conditioner to 26 degrees.
More formal, used for configuring settings on computers, phones, or systems.
Set a password.
Let's set a date and time for the meeting.
Set a goal.
Used for establishing rules, standards, or conditions, often in formal contexts.
Set the rules.
To set a record or establish a new achievement. Often used in sports or business.
He set a world record.
To arrange, put in order, or set something neatly. Used for tables, hair, appearance, etc.
Set the dinner table.
Loanword for setting up equipment, venues, or arrangements. Common in event planning and tech.
Set up the sound equipment.
The jelly set in the fridge.
Wait for the glue to set.
Transitive: to make something set or harden. E.g., to set jelly by cooling.
Chill the jelly to set it.
The sun sets in the west.
Often used in the phrase 日が入る (hi ga iru) for the sun setting, especially in literary or poetic contexts.
The sun set behind the mountains.
Follow a set procedure.
set phrase
Fixed, constant, or set. Used for prices, intervals, conditions.
A bell rings at set intervals.
She set the vase on the table.
We need to set a date for the wedding.