Translation guide
A body of water partly enclosed by land, smaller than a gulf. In Japanese, the most common word is 湾 (わん), often used in names. For a small bay or inlet, 入り江 (いりえ) is used. There are also specific terms for bays in geography or architecture.
A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward.
The standard word for a bay, often used in proper names like Tokyo Bay (東京湾). Can be used alone or in compounds.
Tokyo Bay is beautiful.
その船は湾に入った。
The ship entered the bay.
A small bay, inlet, or cove, often with a more irregular shape. Conveys a sense of a sheltered, intimate body of water.
入り江で泳いだ。
We swam in the cove.
その入り江は岩に囲まれている。
The inlet is surrounded by rocks.
An older term for a bay, inlet, or seashore, often found in place names and classical poetry. Not commonly used in modern conversation.
松島の浦は景色がいい。
The bay of Matsushima has beautiful scenery.
Referring to a specific named bay, like Hudson Bay or the Bay of Bengal.
A window projecting outward from a building.
A bay window or oriel window. Commonly used in architecture and daily life.
出窓に花を飾った。
I put flowers on the bay window.
Literally 'projecting window', a more technical term for a bay window.
この家には張り出し窓がある。
This house has a bay window.
A reddish-brown color with black points, used for horses.
Specifically refers to a bay horse color. Used in equestrian contexts.
彼は鹿毛の馬に乗っている。
He is riding a bay horse.
An evergreen tree of the laurel family, whose leaves are used as a herb.
The bay laurel tree. Leaves are called ローリエ (laurel) in cooking.
月桂樹の葉を料理に使う。
I use bay leaves in cooking.
Loanword from French 'laurier', commonly used for the culinary herb bay leaf.
ローリエを入れて煮込む。
Simmer with a bay leaf.
A defined area or compartment, such as a loading bay or a parking bay.
Loanword from English, used in compounds like ローディングベイ (loading bay) or パーキングベイ (parking bay).
トラックがローディングベイに停まっている。
The truck is parked at the loading bay.
A section or compartment, can be used for parking bays or storage bays.
湾 (わん) is the general term for a bay, often large and open. 入り江 (いりえ) refers to a smaller, more enclosed inlet or cove, often with a picturesque quality. Use 湾 for geographical names and larger bodies; use 入り江 for small, sheltered bays.
東京湾は大きな湾です。
Tokyo Bay is a large bay.
小さな入り江で休んだ。
We rested in a small cove.
湾岸 (わんがん) means 'bay coast' or 'bay shore', often used in road names like 湾岸道路 (coastal road). It does not mean 'bay' itself.
湾は穏やかで青かった。
The bay was calm and blue.
小さな入り江に錨を下ろした。
We anchored in a small bay.
Park the car in the parking bay.