Translation guide
The English word "spade" can refer to a digging tool, a playing card suit, or be used in the phrase "call a spade a spade." This guide covers how to express each meaning naturally in Japanese.
call a spade a spade
General term for a spade or plow, often used in agricultural contexts.
He dug the garden with a spade.
Loanword from English, commonly understood, especially in non-agricultural contexts.
Please dig a hole using a spade.
Often used for 'shovel' but can overlap with 'spade' in casual usage. Note: a spade typically has a flat blade, while a shovel is curved, but in Japanese, シャベル is often used generically for both.
May cause confusion as it primarily means 'shovel'. Use 鋤 or スペード for clarity.
I scooped sand with a shovel/spade.
One of the four suits in a deck of cards, symbolized by ♠.
Standard term for the suit in card games.
I played the ace of spades.
To speak plainly and directly, even if it's blunt or offensive.
Means 'to say things as they are', a natural equivalent for calling a spade a spade.
He is a person who calls a spade a spade.
Means 'to say something directly and frankly', often with a sharp tone.
She called a spade a spade for me.
Idiom meaning 'to not mince words', literally 'not put clothes on one's teeth'. Conveys blunt honesty.
The English idiom 'call a spade a spade' cannot be translated word-for-word into Japanese. Use the phrases provided instead.
call a spade a spade (literal, unnatural)
I like his way of calling a spade a spade.