Translation guide
The gradual sinking or settling of the ground, often due to natural or human causes. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific nouns and verbs depending on context, such as geological sinking, building settlement, or metaphorical decline.
Describing the natural or human-induced sinking of the earth's surface, such as due to mining, groundwater extraction, or earthquakes.
The standard term for land subsidence, often used in news and technical contexts.
地下水の汲み上げが地盤沈下を引き起こした。
Groundwater pumping caused land subsidence.
General term for sinking or subsidence, used in broader contexts including ground, structures, or even metaphorical sinking.
この地域では毎年数センチの沈下が観測されている。
Several centimeters of subsidence are observed annually in this area.
Refers to a sudden collapse or cave-in, such as a sinkhole, rather than gradual subsidence.
Often implies a more dramatic, sudden event rather than slow sinking.
道路が陥没して大きな穴ができた。
The road caved in, creating a large hole.
Describing the gradual sinking or compression of a building's foundation or soil underneath.
Differential settlement, where parts of a building sink unevenly, causing cracks or tilting.
不同沈下によって建物にひびが入った。
Differential settlement caused cracks in the building.
Can also be used for building settlement, though less specific than 不同沈下.
新築の家が少し沈下した。
The newly built house settled a little.
Using 'subsidence' figuratively to describe a decrease in intensity, activity, or quality.
Calming down, subsiding of a situation, emotions, or symptoms.
騒動が沈静化するまで待ちましょう。
Let's wait until the uproar subsides.
Pacification, calming, often used for pain, inflammation, or social unrest.
Decline, drop, or lowering, used for quality, ability, or levels.
沈下 (ちんか) is gradual sinking, while 陥没 (かんぼつ) is a sudden collapse or cave-in. Use 沈下 for slow subsidence and 陥没 for sinkholes or sudden failures.
Directly translating 'subsidence' as 沈下 in all contexts may sound unnatural. For metaphorical uses, consider 沈静化 or 低下 depending on the nuance.
痛みの鎮静には時間がかかる。
It takes time for the pain to subside.
The decline in quality is a problem.