Translation guide
A user's manual is a document that explains how to use a product or service. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 取扱説明書 (toriatsukai setsumeisho), often shortened to 取説 (torisetsu) in casual contexts. Other terms like マニュアル (manyuaru) or 説明書 (setsumeisho) are also used depending on the context.
取扱説明書はどこですか？
Where is the user's manual?
The physical or digital booklet that comes with a product, explaining how to use it.
The standard formal term for a user's manual, especially for appliances, electronics, and machinery. Literally 'handling explanation document'.
この製品の取扱説明書をよく読んでください。
Please read the user's manual for this product carefully.
Common abbreviation of 取扱説明書, used in casual conversation or informal writing. Very natural in everyday speech.
取説どこにやったっけ？
Where did I put the user's manual?
Loanword from English 'manual'. Often used for software, games, or more complex systems. Can also refer to a manual in the sense of a guidebook.
ゲームのマニュアルをダウンロードした。
I downloaded the game's user manual.
General term for an explanatory document. Can be used for user's manuals, but is broader. Often combined with other words like 使用説明書 (shiyō setsumeisho).
説明書が入っていなかった。
The user's manual wasn't included.
Literally 'usage explanation document'. More formal and less common than 取扱説明書, but sometimes seen on products.
使用説明書に従って操作してください。
Please operate according to the user's manual.
Digital manuals, help files, or online guides for software, websites, or services.
The most natural term for digital manuals, especially in IT contexts.
オンラインマニュアルを参照してください。
Please refer to the online user's manual.
Often used for in-app help or quick reference guides. More like 'help' than a full manual.
取扱説明書 is the traditional term for a printed manual that comes with a physical product. マニュアル is more common for software, games, and digital documentation. In everyday speech, 取説 is a very common abbreviation for 取扱説明書.
洗濯機の取説、捨てちゃったかも。
I might have thrown away the washing machine's manual.
このソフトのマニュアルはオンラインだけです。
The manual for this software is online only.
取説 (torisetsu) is a very common abbreviation in casual Japanese. It's perfectly natural in conversation and informal writing, but avoid it in formal documents.
You can find out how to use it by looking at the help.
Can be used for digital versions of traditional manuals, but マニュアル is more common for purely digital contexts.
取扱説明書のPDFをダウンロードできます。
You can download the PDF of the user's manual.