Translation guide
The English word 'troll' has two main meanings: a mythical creature and an online provocateur. This guide focuses on the online sense, which is the most common modern usage. The mythical creature is also covered for completeness.
A person who posts inflammatory, off-topic, or disruptive messages online to provoke others or disrupt discussion.
Don't feed the trolls. · He's just trolling you. · The comment section is full of trolls.
The most common and direct equivalent for an online troll. Refers to someone who intentionally disrupts forums, comment sections, or social media with spam, insults, or off-topic posts.
掲示板が荒らしに荒らされている。
The forum is being trolled by a troll.
荒らしは無視するのが一番だ。
It's best to ignore trolls.
Loanword from English, often used in the context of online trolling. Less common than 荒らし but understood, especially among internet-savvy users.
あのユーザーはただのトロールだ。
That user is just a troll.
Literally 'angler', used for someone who posts bait to get reactions. More specific to 'trolling for responses' rather than general disruption.
彼は釣り師だから、本気にしないで。
He's a troll, so don't take him seriously.
A supernatural being from folklore, often depicted as a large, ugly, human-like creature living in caves or mountains.
The standard term for the mythical creature, borrowed from English. Used in fantasy contexts, games, and stories.
そのゲームにはトロールが登場する。
Trolls appear in that game.
A Japanese yōkai similar to a troll or ogress, often depicted as an old woman living in the mountains. Not a direct translation but a cultural equivalent in some contexts.
In English, 'troll' can mean either the mythical creature or the online harasser. In Japanese, 荒らし is only for the online sense, while トロール can be used for both but is more common for the creature. Use context to clarify.
ネットの荒らしと童話のトロールは別物だ。
An online troll and a fairy-tale troll are different things.
The verb 'to troll' is often expressed as 荒らす (あらす) or 荒らしをする. For example, 'He is trolling the forum' can be 彼は掲示板を荒らしている.
彼は掲示板を荒らしている。
He is trolling the forum.
A mountain witch appears in the folktale.