Translation guide
The English word "spare" has many meanings. This guide covers the most useful ones for learners: having extra, giving, not harming, avoiding, and being thin.
Something extra that is not currently needed, or time/money available to use.
Noun meaning 'spare' or 'reserve', used for things kept for future use.
Do you have a spare key?
Noun/na-adjective meaning 'extra' or 'surplus', often used for things beyond what is needed.
Do you have any spare tickets?
Phrase meaning 'free' or 'available', used for time.
Do you have any spare time?
Loanword from English, used for spare parts or in sports like bowling.
The spare tire is in the trunk.
To give something you can afford to part with, like time or money.
To refrain from killing, hurting, or punishing someone.
Phrase meaning 'to spare someone's life'.
He spared the enemy's life.
Verb meaning 'to pardon' or 'to spare', often used in negative requests.
容赦する is formal; in casual contexts, 許す (ゆるす) is more common.
Please spare me.
Idiom meaning 'to overlook' or 'to spare someone from criticism'.
To prevent someone from experiencing something unpleasant.
Describing a person or animal as thin.
English 'spare' covers many concepts that don't map to a single Japanese word. Always choose based on the specific meaning you want to express.
予備 (よび) is for something kept as a backup (spare key, spare tire). 余分 (よぶん) is for something extra beyond what is needed (spare change, spare copies).
Can you spare some money?
I'll spare you this time.
彼女は細い指をしている。
She has spare fingers.