Translation guide
The English word 'thorn' refers to a sharp point on a plant, or metaphorically to something annoying or painful. In Japanese, the most common word is とげ, but there are also specific terms for large thorns, splinters, and figurative uses.
The physical sharp outgrowth on a stem or branch of a plant, like a rose thorn.
The most common and general word for thorn, spine, or splinter. Used for plant thorns, fish bones, and figurative 'thorns'.
バラのとげに刺さった。
I got pricked by a rose thorn.
この植物にはとげがある。
This plant has thorns.
Kanji form of とげ, same meaning but more common in written or formal contexts.
棘のある植物に注意。
Beware of plants with thorns.
Literally 'large thorn', used for big thorns like those on a citrus tree. Rare and specific.
レモンの木には大刺がある。
Lemon trees have large thorns.
A small sharp piece of wood, metal, or glass stuck in the skin.
Also used for splinters. Context distinguishes plant thorn from splinter.
指にとげが刺さった。
I got a splinter in my finger.
Same as とげ, often written in kanji for splinters.
Something that causes persistent annoyance or emotional pain, like 'a thorn in one's side'.
Idiom meaning 'a nuisance' or 'a thorn in one's side', literally 'a bump above the eye'. Used for a person or thing that is an ongoing irritation.
彼は私にとって目の上のたんこぶだ。
He is a thorn in my side.
Literally 'thorn in the heart', used for emotional pain or a lingering hurt.
その言葉が心のとげになった。
Those words became a thorn in my heart.
Means 'source of worry' or 'cause of trouble', similar to 'thorn in one's side'.
彼の態度が悩みの種だ。
His attitude is a thorn in my side.
Referring to a thorn in a symbolic, literary, or naming context, such as 'crown of thorns'.
Specifically 'crown of thorns', a Christian symbol. いばら means briar or thorny bush.
イエスはいばらの冠をかぶせられた。
Jesus was made to wear a crown of thorns.
Kanji for いばら, often used in literary or religious contexts for thorny plants or the crown of thorns.
荊の道を歩む。
Walk a thorny path (figuratively, a difficult life).
The English name 'Thorn' as a surname is usually transliterated as ソーン (sōn), not translated. Do not use とげ for a person's name.
ソーンさん
Mr./Ms. Thorn
I had a wood splinter removed.