Translation guide
A soliloquy is a speech a character makes to themselves, revealing inner thoughts. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific theatrical terms, narrative techniques, or descriptive phrases.
A speech in a play where a character, alone or regardless of hearers, speaks their thoughts aloud.
The standard term for a soliloquy in drama. Used in literary and theatrical contexts.
Hamlet's famous soliloquy begins with 'To be, or not to be.'
Loanword from English 'monologue'. Often used in modern theater and film contexts.
The monologue in this scene conveys the protagonist's inner conflict to the audience.
The act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone or without addressing anyone, often unintentionally.
Common word for talking to oneself. Can be used for both casual muttering and more extended self-talk.
He often talks to himself.
To mutter to oneself. Emphasizes quiet, indistinct speech.
Literary or formal term for talking to oneself. Rare in everyday speech.
A character's inner thoughts presented as unspoken speech, often in novels or films.
Literally 'inner soliloquy'. Used in literary criticism to describe stream-of-consciousness or internal monologue.
This novel makes extensive use of interior monologue.
Also used for internal monologue in film and literature, similar to English 'monologue'.
独白 (dokuhaku) is a theatrical/literary term for a soliloquy in a play or narrative. 独り言 (hitorigoto) is everyday talking to oneself. Using 独白 for casual self-talk sounds overly dramatic.
I feel like I've been talking to myself more lately.
She was walking along muttering something to herself.
The old man continued his soliloquy on the park bench.
The protagonist's monologue plays over the final scene of the film.