Translation guide
A software-based emulation of a physical computer. In Japanese, the English term is widely used as-is, but native equivalents exist for formal or explanatory contexts.
A program that mimics a physical computer, running an OS and applications.
Standard Japanese term combining 仮想 (virtual) and マシン (machine). Used in technical documentation and everyday IT conversations.
この仮想マシンにはUbuntuがインストールされています。
Ubuntu is installed on this virtual machine.
仮想マシンを起動してください。
Please start the virtual machine.
Direct loanword from English. Common in spoken Japanese and less formal writing.
バーチャルマシンを使うと、一つのパソコンで複数のOSを動かせます。
Using a virtual machine, you can run multiple OSes on one PC.
Abbreviation used in technical contexts, often in written form or among IT professionals.
新しいVMを作成しました。
I created a new VM.
More formal or academic term, literally 'virtual computing machine'. Rarely used in everyday IT; found in older or highly formal documents.
仮想計算機の概念は1960年代に登場した。
The concept of the virtual machine emerged in the 1960s.
An abstract computing environment that executes bytecode or intermediate code, such as the Java Virtual Machine.
Same term as above, but context clarifies it refers to a language runtime. Often used in compound names like Java仮想マシン.
Java仮想マシン（JVM）上でプログラムが動作します。
The program runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
Abbreviation used when the context is clear, e.g., JVM is often just called VM in technical discussions.
このVMはガベージコレクションを最適化している。
This VM optimizes garbage collection.
In most IT contexts, 仮想マシン and バーチャルマシン are interchangeable. 仮想マシン is slightly more formal and common in written technical documents, while バーチャルマシン is frequent in speech. VM is a convenient abbreviation among colleagues.
Do not translate 'virtual machine' as 仮想の機械 or バーチャルな機械; these sound unnatural. Stick to the established terms above.