Translation guide
The English adjective 'wooden' describes something made of wood, or metaphorically, something stiff, awkward, or lacking grace. This guide covers both literal and figurative uses, with natural Japanese equivalents.
Describing an object that is constructed from wood.
The most common and neutral way to say 'wooden' for objects. It directly means 'made of wood'.
This is a wooden table.
A more casual and common alternative, literally 'of wood'. Often used in everyday speech.
Please use a wooden spoon.
Loanword from English, used in product names or stylish contexts, but less natural in general description.
Wooden accessories are trendy.
Describing a person's movement, expression, performance, or style that is rigid and ungraceful.
Do not use 木製の or 木の to describe a person's awkwardness. Those only mean 'made of wood'. Use ぎこちない or 堅い instead.
He is a wooden dancer.
木製の家具が好きです。
I like wooden furniture.
子供に木のおもちゃをあげた。
I gave the child a wooden toy.
An i-adjective meaning awkward, clumsy, or stiff. Used for movements, speech, or social interactions.
His movements are still wooden.
She gave a wooden smile.
Literally 'hard/stiff', can describe wooden expressions or writing style. Often used for formal or nervous stiffness.
His acting is still wooden.
The writing is wooden, isn't it?
Means 'unnatural'. Can be used for wooden dialogue or behavior that lacks spontaneity.
The conversation sounded wooden.
Specifically for wooden delivery of lines (acting, reading aloud), meaning reading in a monotone without emotion.
His lines were delivered in a wooden manner.