Translation guide
The English word "trick" covers a wide range of meanings, from deception and magic to skills and habits. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the intended meaning.
To deceive someone, often for personal gain; a dishonest act.
The most common verb for 'to trick' or 'to deceive'. Can be used in many contexts.
彼は私を騙してお金を取った。
He tricked me and took my money.
To deceive by covering up or distorting the truth; to cheat or misrepresent.
彼は年齢をごまかした。
He lied about his age.
A performance of illusion or sleight of hand.
General term for magic tricks, especially close-up magic.
彼は手品が上手だ。
He is good at magic tricks.
Loanword for 'magic', often used for stage magic or as a general term.
Formal or literary term for magic tricks; conjuring.
A clever method or special skill to do something easily.
The knack or trick to doing something well; a practical tip.
料理のコツを教えてください。
Please teach me the trick to cooking.
A secret trick or exploit, often used in games or software.
このゲームの裏技を知ってる？
Do you know any tricks for this game?
Secret or key to success; often used in self-help or business contexts.
A playful or naughty act, often to surprise or tease someone.
A prank or mischief; can be used as a noun or verb (いたずらをする).
子供がいたずらをした。
The child played a trick.
Kanji form of いたずら, but often read as あくぎ for more malicious mischief.
悪戯が過ぎる。
The prank goes too far.
A habitual way of behaving or a characteristic quirk.
A habit, often unconscious; can be neutral or negative.
彼には嘘をつく癖がある。
He has a trick of lying.
A custom or habit, more neutral and general than 癖.
A set of cards played and won in one round of a card game.
Loanword used specifically for the card game term.
彼はそのトリックを取った。
He took the trick.
The English word 'trick' is highly polysemous. Directly translating it as トリック (torikku) is only appropriate for magic or card game contexts. For deception, use 騙す (damasu) or ごまかす (gomakasu). For a helpful tip, use コツ (kotsu).
マジックを見せてください。
Please show me a magic trick.
He performed a conjuring trick.
The trick to success is hard work.
毎朝ジョギングするのが彼の習慣だ。
It's his trick to jog every morning.