Translation guide
The English word "story" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. The most common meanings are a narrative or tale, a news article, and a floor of a building. Other uses include a lie or excuse, a plot or storyline, and a rumor or hearsay. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
a news story
a ten-story building
A spoken or written account of events, real or fictional.
The most common and versatile word for a story, tale, or account. Can be used for both casual and formal contexts.
Please tell me an interesting story.
A more literary or formal term for a story, often a longer narrative like a novel, epic, or legend. Implies a crafted tale.
Loanword from English, often used for the plot or storyline of a movie, book, or game. Common in media contexts.
A piece of news or a report in a newspaper, on TV, etc.
Standard term for a news article or report in a newspaper, magazine, or website.
A level or floor in a building.
Counter for floors. Replace N with the number. Note irregular readings for some numbers (e.g., 1階 = いっかい, 3階 = さんがい).
A false statement or fabricated account, often used to deceive or as an excuse.
The most direct word for a lie or falsehood. Can also be used for a made-up story.
The main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence.
Refers to the plot or storyline of a narrative. Common in literary and film contexts.
An unverified account or piece of gossip circulating among people.
The standard word for rumor or gossip. Can be used for a story that is going around.
話 (はなし) is the most general and everyday word for a story or talk. 物語 (ものがたり) is more literary and implies a crafted narrative, like a novel or epic. ストーリー is a loanword often used for the plot or storyline in modern media, and can sound casual.
That's a long story.
That's a long story.
This story is based on a true story.
This movie has a weak story.
Specifically a folktale, legend, or old story passed down through generations.
I heard old stories from my grandmother.
その事件についての記事を読んだ。
I read a story about the incident.
General term for news. Can refer to a news story or the news in general.
The top story was about the earthquake.
Formal term for news reporting or a news story, often used in journalistic contexts.
That news story was incorrect.
My room is on the third floor.
That building is ten stories tall.
The word for 'floor' or 'storey' when not specifying a number.
How many stories does this building have?
それは嘘だよ。
That's a story (lie).
He made up a story.
Literally 'made-up story', often used for a fabrication or tall tale.
That's just a made-up story.
An excuse or justification, often a story to explain away a mistake.
He gave a story for being late.
この小説は筋が複雑だ。
This novel has a complicated story.
A summary or synopsis of the story, often used when asking for the gist.
Tell me the story of the movie.
Loanword from English, used specifically for the plot of a story, often in writing or filmmaking contexts.
To develop the story (plot).
I heard a strange story (rumor).
Specifically a piece of gossip or a rumor story.
That's just a rumor story.
Yesterday I heard an interesting story from a friend.
The Tale of Genji is a classic of Japanese literature.
This game has a great story.
The English word 'story' for a floor of a building is never translated as ストーリー. Use 階 (かい) or the counter N階.
He lives on the fifth story.
I read an interesting story in the newspaper.
The building has twenty stories.