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.
ハムレットの有名な独白は「生きるべきか死ぬべきか」で始まる。
Hamlet's famous soliloquy begins with 'To be, or not to be.'
Loanword from English 'monologue'. Often used in modern theater and film contexts.
このシーンのモノローグは観客に主人公の葛藤を伝える。
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.
彼はよく独り言を言う。
He often talks to himself.
独り言が多くなった気がする。
I feel like I've been talking to myself more lately.
To mutter to oneself. Emphasizes quiet, indistinct speech.
彼女は何か独り言をつぶやきながら歩いていた。
She was walking along muttering something to herself.
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.
この小説は内心の独白を多用している。
This novel makes extensive use of interior monologue.
Also used for internal monologue in film and literature, similar to English 'monologue'.
映画のラストシーンで主人公のモノローグが流れる。
The protagonist's monologue plays over the final scene of the film.
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.
The old man continued his soliloquy on the park bench.