Translation guide
The English word 'cement' can refer to the building material, a dental material, or the verb meaning to bond or strengthen. This guide covers how to express these concepts naturally in Japanese.
The gray powder used in construction that hardens when mixed with water, or the resulting solid material.
The most common and direct translation for the building material. A loanword from English, used in everyday and technical contexts.
セメントを練る。
Mix cement.
セメントが固まった。
The cement hardened.
Technically 'concrete', which is a mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water. Often used interchangeably with セメント in casual speech, but in technical contexts they are distinct.
In precise construction contexts, セメント refers to the powder, while コンクリート is the final composite. Using コンクリート for 'cement' may be inaccurate.
コンクリートの壁。
A concrete wall.
Material used in dentistry to fill cavities or attach crowns.
Also used for dental cement. Context usually makes the meaning clear.
歯にセメントを詰める。
Fill a tooth with cement.
Explicitly 'dental cement'. Used in medical or technical contexts.
歯科用セメントで被せ物を付ける。
Attach a crown with dental cement.
To attach or fix something securely, often with a cement-like substance, or metaphorically to strengthen a relationship.
General verb for 'to bond' or 'to adhere'. Used for physical joining with adhesives, including cement.
タイルをセメントで接着する。
Cement the tiles in place.
Means 'to harden' or 'to solidify'. Can be used when cement is used to make something firm.
セメントで基礎を固める。
Cement the foundation.
Literally 'fix with cement'. A clear and natural phrase for attaching something using cement.
柱をセメントで固定する。
Cement the post in place.
To make a relationship, agreement, or feeling stronger and more lasting.
Means 'to make firm/strong'. Commonly used for abstract relationships.
友情を強固にする。
Cement a friendship.
Also used metaphorically for solidifying relationships or plans.
二人の絆を固める。
Cement the bond between the two.
Literally 'make unshakable'. A more emphatic and literary expression.
信頼関係を揺るぎないものにする。
Cement a relationship of trust.
セメント (cement) is the powder that acts as a binder. コンクリート (concrete) is the mixture of cement, water, sand, and gravel. In everyday Japanese, people may say セメント when they mean コンクリート, but in technical or construction contexts, the distinction is important.
セメントとコンクリートは違います。
Cement and concrete are different.