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).
彼は試合で20得点を挙げた。
He tallied 20 points in the game.
Literally 'to pile up points', meaning to tally points over time.
チームは着実に得点を重ねた。
The team steadily tallied points.
Loanword from English, commonly used in sports and games for 'score'.
スコアを記録する。
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.
在庫を数える。
To tally the inventory.
Literally 'to count the number', emphasizing the act of tallying.
参加者の数を数えた。
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.
数を正の字で数えた。
I tallied the numbers using the '正' mark method.
To check that a count or record matches another, like balancing accounts.
Means 'to match' or 'to agree'. Used when two tallies should be the same.
計算が一致した。
The tallies matched.
Literally 'the total matches', used when verifying sums.
レジの合計が合わない。
The register tally doesn't match.
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.