Whether you’re immersed in the world of information technology (like us) or are simply interested in learning some specialized Japanese IT terminology to upgrade your conversation skills, we’ve compiled a list from a few great sources to help you on your journey.
Japanese IT Terminology List
修正 (しゅうせい) shūsei – edit
実装 (じっそう) jissō – implementation
設計 (せっけい) sekkei – design/architecture
体験版 (たいけんばん) taikenban – trial version (of software)
ベータ版(ばん) be-taban – beta version (of software)
技術 (ぎじゅつ) gijutsu – technology
機能 (きのう) kinō – function; feature
ソフト (short for ソフトウェア) sofuto – software
開発 (かいはつ) kaihatsu – development
開発者 (かいはつしゃ) kaihatsusha – developer
開発環境 (かいはつかんきょう) kaihatsu kankyō – development environment
利用者 (りようしゃ) riyōsha – user, end-user
データベース de-tabe-su – database
構造 (こうぞう) kōzō – structure
管理 (かんり) kanri – manage (a system, etc.)
納品 (のうひん) nōhin – delivery
入門(にゅうもん) nyūmon – primer (when you begin learning something)
設定(せってい) settei – setting(s)
コンピューター言語 (げんご) konpyu-ta- gengo – programming language (C, C++, Java, etc.)
作成(さくせい) sakusei – compose/create (a list, an email, a game, etc.)
起動 (きどう) kidō – startup (a computer, etc.)
再起動 (さいきどう) sai kidō – restart (a computer, etc.)
画面 (がめん) gamen – screen
企画 (きかく) kikaku – project, plan, planning
企画書 (きかくしょ) kikakusho – project plan document
出力 (しゅつりょく) shutsuryoku – output
デバッグ debaggu – debug
解説書 (かいせつしょ) kaisetsusho – manual (a book or other document that describes how something works)
依存性 (いぞんせい) izonsei – dependency (a DLL, library, etc.)
実行 (じっこう) jikkō – run/execute
形式 (けいしき) keishiki – format (of a file, etc.)
拡張子 (かくちょうし) kakuchōshi – file extension
担当者 (たんとうしゃ) tantōsha – person in charge of something (a project, etc.)
見積もり (みつもり) mitsumori – an estimate (for a project’s cost, etc.)
改善 (かいぜん) kaizen – improvement
情報 (じょうほう) jōhō – information
条件 (じょうけん) jōken – condition
規模 (きぼ) kibo – scale (of a project or plan)
仕様書 (しようしょ) shiyōsho – specifications document
保守 (ほしゅ) hoshu – maintenance, maintain
機器 (きき) kiki – equipment
費用 (ひよう) hiyō – expense
処理(しょり) shori – process (like do a calculation, etc.)
要求(ようきゅう) yōkyū – demand, request (from a customer, etc.)
運用 (うんよう) un’yō – operations (of a data center, etc.)
To see the rest of this helpful list of terms, head over to Self Taught Japanese!
イーサネット i-sanetto – Ethernet
バックアップ bakkuappu – backup
例外処理 (れいがいしょり) reigai shori – exception handling
アプリケーション層 (そう) apurike-shonsō – application layer
ネットワーク層(そう) nettowa-kusō – network layer
バックグラウンドジョブ bakkuguraundo jobu – background job
一括処理(いっかつしょり) ikkatsu shori – batch processing
入力機器(にゅうりょくきき)nyūryoku kiki – input cable
同期 (どうき)dōki – synchronization
仮想(かそう)ターミナル kasō ta-minaru – virtual terminal
Visit CJK Dictionary Institute to view the rest of this publicly available list and to learn more about their mission.
拡張現実(かくちょうげんじつ) kakuchō genjitsu – augmented reality, AR
静的(せいてき)seiteki – static
動的(どうてき)dōteki – dynamic, kinetic
振る舞い(ふるまい) furumai – behavior, conduct
期待(きたい) kitai – expectation, anticipation, hope
特定(とくてい) tokutei – specific, particular, designated, special; to specify, to identify, to pinpoint
国際規格(こくさいきかく) kokusai kikaku – international standard
範囲(はんい)han’i – extent, scope, sphere, range, span
説明書(せつめいしょ)setsumeisho – (printed) instructions
標準(ひょうじゅん)hyōjun – standard, level, norm
通信(つうしん)tsūshin – correspondence, communication, transmission, news, signal, telecommunications
複雑(ふくざつ) fukuzatsu – complex, complicated, mixed (feelings)
状態(じょうたい)jōtai – current status, condition, situation, circumstances, state
管理(かんり)kanri – control, management (e.g. of a business)
遷移(せんい)sen’i – transition
仕様(しよう)shiyō – way, method, means, resource, remedy; (technical) specification
標準化(ひょうじゅんか)hyōjunka – standardization
貢献(こうけん)kōken – contribution (furthering a goal or cause), services (to a cause)
新機能(しんきのう)shin kinō – new functionality, new feature
構造体(こうぞうたい)kōzōtai – structure
無限(むげん)mugen – infinity, infinitude, eternity; infinite, limitless
製造(せいぞう)seizō – manufacture, production
削除(さくじょ)sakujo – elimination, cancellation, deletion, erasure, DEL (key)
現代社会(げんだいしゃかい)gendai shakai – modern society
水平(すいへい)suihei – level, horizontality
送料(そうりょう)sōryō – postage, carriage, shipping charge
自力(じりき) jiriki – by oneself, self-made
改善(かいぜん)kaizen – betterment, improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
技術者(ぎじゅつしゃ) gijutsusha – engineer, technical expert, technician, craftsperson
サーバ側(サーバがわ)sa-ba gawa – server-side
クライアント側(クライアントがわ)kuraianto gawa – client-side
クライアント側アプリケーション(クライアントがわアプリケーション) kuraianto gawa apurike-shon – client-side application
複数(ふくすう) fukusū – several, plural, plurality, multiple
Machiko Yasuda (via GitHub) is a programmer / developer known for her work at Tofugu, a popular learning resource for Japanese students!
And last but not least, we’ve added some our own Japanese IT terminology.
- 印刷(いんさつ) insatsu – Print
- ハッカー hakka- – hacker
- ケーブル配線図 (はいせんず) haisenzu – cabling diagram
- トランスポート層(そう) toransupo-tosō – transport layer
- 電源(でんげん)ケーブル dengen ke-buru – power cable
- ワイハイ waihai – WiFi
- 無線(むせん)LAN musen ran – wireless LAN
- ペネトレーションテスト penetore-shon tesuto – penetration test
- 侵入(しんにゅう)テスト shinnyū tesuto – penetration test
- アンチウイルスソフトウェア anchi uirusu sofutowhea – antivirus software
- 確認(かくにん)する kakunin suru – to confirm; verify
- 変える(かえる)kaeru – change; alter
- 知識(ちしき)chishiki – knowledge; information
- 接続(せつぞく)setsuzoku – connection (to internet)
- コンセント konsento – electrical outlet
- 仮想機械(かそうきかい)kasō kikai – virtual machine; VM
- 任務(にんむ)ninmu – duty; task; mission
- 能力(のうりょく) nōryoku – ability; faculty
- 解決(かいけつ) kaiketsu – solution; resolution
- 本番環境(ほんばんかんきょう)honban kankyō – Live/production environment or server
- 仮~(かり) kari – temporary e.g. 仮パスワード
- 予備(よび)yobi – spare/reserve
- 通常(つうじょう)tsūjō – Default e.g. default app – you’ll see this in Windows
- 管理者(かんりしゃ) kanrisha – Administrator
Grow the List, Spread the Knowledge
If there’s an IT-related word or short phrase in Japanese you’d like to share and think would be helpful, kindly reach out to us using the contact form below and we’ll consider adding it. Thank you!