Translation guide
A metric unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms. In Japanese, this is typically expressed using the loanword トン, which can refer to both the metric tonne and other ton units depending on context.
The standard metric unit of mass used in most countries.
The most common and natural way to say 'tonne' in Japanese. It is a loanword from English and is used in everyday contexts, science, and industry. Note that トン can also mean 'ton' (US/short ton or UK/long ton), so context is important.
この車の重さは約2トンです。
This car weighs about 2 tonnes.
工場は年間1000トンの鉄を生産しています。
The factory produces 1,000 tonnes of steel annually.
Explicitly means 'metric ton' (tonne). Used when you need to distinguish from other ton units (short ton, long ton). More common in technical or international contexts.
この貨物船は5万メトリックトンの積載量があります。
This cargo ship has a capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes.
The Japanese word トン can refer to a metric tonne (1,000 kg), a short ton (about 907 kg), or a long ton (about 1,016 kg). In most everyday Japanese contexts, it defaults to the metric tonne, but in international trade or technical documents, you may need to specify メトリックトン for clarity.