Translation guide
How to express the concept of 'tanning' in Japanese, covering sunbathing, leather processing, and related expressions.
The act of lying in the sun to darken the skin, or the resulting tan.
The most common and natural way to say 'to get a suntan' or 'to sunbathe'. It can refer to both intentional tanning and accidental sunburn, but context usually makes it clear.
夏は海で日焼けするのが好きです。
In summer, I like to get a tan at the beach.
日焼けしすぎて肌が痛い。
I got too much sun and my skin hurts.
The industrial process of treating animal skins to make leather.
The standard verb for 'to tan leather'. なめす specifically means to convert raw hide into leather.
この工場では牛の皮をなめしています。
This factory tans cow hides.
Using a device or salon treatment to get a tan.
Common way to say 'to use a tanning bed/machine'. 日焼けマシン is the typical term for tanning beds.
冬は日焼けマシンを使っています。
In winter, I use a tanning bed.
日焼けする can also mean 'to get sunburned' depending on context. If you want to emphasize intentional tanning, you can say わざと日焼けする (to tan on purpose) or use 日光浴. For painful sunburn, 日焼けで真っ赤になる (to get bright red from sunburn) is clearer.
日焼けで真っ赤になった。
I got sunburned and turned bright red.
Literally 'to take a sunbath'. More formal or health-oriented than 日焼けする. Often used for intentional sun exposure for health or relaxation.
健康のために毎朝日光浴をしています。
I sunbathe every morning for my health.
A poetic way to say 'to get a wheat-colored complexion', often used in beauty contexts to describe a desirable tan.
彼女は小麦色の肌が自慢だ。
She is proud of her tanned skin.
Noun meaning 'tanned leather'. Often used in product descriptions.
このバッグはなめし革で作られています。
This bag is made of tanned leather.
Technical term for 'tannin tanning', a specific method using plant tannins.
タンニンなめしは伝統的な方法です。
Tannin tanning is a traditional method.
Abbreviation of 日焼けサロン (tanning salon). Very common in casual conversation.
日サロに行ってきた。
I went to the tanning salon.