Translation guide
The act of allowing or enduring something, especially something disliked or disapproved of. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through verbs and nouns related to permission, endurance, and acceptance, with nuances depending on whether the focus is on active permission, passive endurance, or social tolerance.
To permit something to happen or exist, often by an authority or in a formal context.
A formal noun meaning 'toleration' or 'allowance', often used in technical, legal, or policy contexts. It implies setting a permissible limit or standard.
This machine tolerates a certain degree of error.
Tacit permission; tolerating something by turning a blind eye. Often used when an authority unofficially allows something that is technically prohibited.
The police seem to be tolerating that behavior.
Acceptance or approval, often used in social or political contexts to mean tolerating a situation or policy.
The government tolerated the policy.
To overlook or tolerate a minor fault or mistake, often in a lenient or forgiving way. Common in everyday speech.
I'll let it slide this time.
To endure or bear something unpleasant without complaining.
Patience, endurance, or self-restraint. The most common way to express tolerating something unpleasant, such as pain, noise, or a difficult person.
I can't tolerate his attitude.
Please tolerate the pain.
To endure, withstand, or bear something physically or emotionally challenging. Often used for hardship, pressure, or environmental conditions.
Patient endurance, often with a nuance of perseverance through long-term difficulty. More formal and less common in daily speech than 我慢.
To accept or respect the existence of different opinions, behaviors, or people in society.
Tolerance in the sense of being broad-minded, accepting, and not strict towards others' beliefs or lifestyles. Often used in social, religious, or cultural contexts.
Tolerance towards different cultures is important.
Can also be used in social contexts to mean the extent to which something is allowed or accepted, similar to 'toleration' as a limit.
To accept or embrace. While not a direct translation of 'toleration', it is often used to express the idea of accepting differences in a positive way.
The allowable amount of variation or error in a system, measurement, or process.
Used in technical fields to mean 'tolerance' as in engineering tolerance or permissible error range.
The tolerance for this part is 0.1 mm.
Specifically 'tolerance' in engineering and manufacturing, referring to the permissible limit of variation in a physical dimension.
我慢 (gaman) is about enduring something unpleasant personally. 寛容 (kan'yō) is about being open-minded and accepting of others. 許容 (kyoyō) is about setting a permissible limit, often in formal or technical contexts. Choose based on whether you mean personal endurance, social acceptance, or formal permission.
The English word 'toleration' is relatively rare and often replaced by 'tolerance'. In Japanese, there is no single word that covers all uses. Avoid directly translating 'toleration' as a noun; instead, use the appropriate verb or noun phrase based on context.
彼は孤独に耐えられなかった。
He couldn't tolerate the loneliness.
辛抱強く待つ。
To wait patiently (tolerating the wait).
To what extent should society tolerate diversity?
A society that tolerates (accepts) differences.
Check the design tolerance.