Translation guide
A caption is a short text that accompanies an image, video, or illustration, explaining or describing it. In Japanese, the translation depends on the medium and context.
A short description or title under a picture, photo, or diagram in a book, magazine, or article.
The most direct loanword from English, widely used in publishing, design, and digital media. Suitable for both formal and casual contexts.
この写真のキャプションを考えてください。
Please think of a caption for this photo.
Literally 'explanatory text'. A more descriptive term often used in textbooks, manuals, or formal documents.
図の下に説明文を追加してください。
Please add a caption below the figure.
Means 'title'. Can be used for a caption that serves as a title for an image, but is less specific.
この絵の題は何ですか？
What is the caption/title of this picture?
Text displayed on screen during a video, film, or TV program, often for translation or accessibility.
The standard term for subtitles or captions in movies, TV, and online videos. Covers both translation subtitles and closed captions.
この動画には英語の字幕がついています。
This video has English captions.
Refers to superimposed text on TV or video, often used for emphasis, commentary, or captions in variety shows. More casual and media-specific.
Also used for video captions, especially in digital contexts like YouTube or social media, but 字幕 is more common.
The text accompanying a post on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
The standard term used on social media. Often left as the English word 'caption' in Japanese interfaces.
インスタのキャプションに何を書こうかな。
What should I write in the Instagram caption?
Simply 'explanation' or 'description'. Can be used informally to refer to the text part of a post.
The heading or title of a legal document, court case, or formal paper.
Means 'title' or 'heading' of a document. Used in legal and formal contexts.
この書類の表題を確認してください。
Please check the caption of this document.
Similar to 表題, also means 'title' or 'heading', often used in formal writing.
字幕 (じまく) is the general term for subtitles or captions in videos, including translations and closed captions. テロップ refers specifically to superimposed text on TV shows, often colorful and dynamic. キャプション is a loanword used for captions in images, social media, and sometimes videos, but it's less common than 字幕 for subtitles.
バラエティ番組ではテロップがよく使われる。
Captions are often used in variety shows.
YouTubeのキャプションをオンにしてください。
Please turn on the captions on YouTube.
写真の説明を書いて投稿した。
I wrote a caption for the photo and posted it.
判決文の標題には事件番号が記載されている。
The caption of the judgment includes the case number.