Translation guide
The English word 'tally' can refer to a running count, a record of points or scores, or the act of counting and recording. In Japanese, the best translation depends on whether you are talking about keeping score in a game, counting items, or matching totals.
To record or add up points, goals, or scores, often in a running total.
Refers to the score or points earned. Often used with verbs like 入れる (to score) or 重ねる (to accumulate).
He tallied 20 points in the game.
Literally 'to pile up points', meaning to tally points over time.
The team steadily tallied points.
Loanword from English, commonly used in sports and games for 'score'.
To keep a tally of the score.
To count and record the number of things, often using marks or a list.
The general verb for 'to count'. Can be used for tallying items.
To tally the inventory.
Literally 'to count the number', emphasizing the act of tallying.
I tallied the number of participants.
Refers to totaling or aggregating numbers, often used in formal contexts like surveys or votes.
A traditional Japanese method of tallying by drawing the kanji 正 (five strokes) for each group of five. Useful to know culturally.
I tallied the numbers using the '正' mark method.
To check that a count or record matches another, like balancing accounts.
English often uses 'tally' as a noun (e.g., 'keep a tally'), but Japanese usually uses verbs like 数える (count) or nouns like 得点 (score) depending on context. There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'tally'.
When tallying specific objects, Japanese uses counter words (助数詞). For example, 一人 (ひとり) for one person, 一個 (いっこ) for one small item. This is more natural than just saying the number.
投票の集計が終わった。
The tally of votes is complete.