Translation guide
The punctuation mark ':' used in writing. This guide covers how to refer to the symbol itself and how it functions in Japanese text.
コロン
colon (punctuation)
Referring to the colon symbol in writing or typing
The most common way to refer to the colon symbol in Japanese, borrowed from English.
ここにコロンを入れてください。
Please insert a colon here.
More explicit, meaning 'colon symbol'. Used when clarity is needed.
コロン記号は時間を表すのによく使われます。
The colon symbol is often used to indicate time.
Using colon to separate hours and minutes
In Japanese, time is typically written without a colon, using 時 (hour) and 分 (minute). The colon is understood but not used in standard Japanese text.
会議は10時30分からです。
The meeting is from 10:30.
When reading a time written with a colon, you can say 'N対N' (N tai N), but this is less common and sounds technical.
10対30と書いてあります。
It's written as 10:30.
Expressing ratios or scores using a colon
The standard way to read a colon in ratios or scores. '対' means 'versus' or 'to'.
スコアは3対1です。
The score is 3:1.
混合比は1対2です。
The mixing ratio is 1:2.
Using colon to introduce an explanation or list
In Japanese, colons are less common for introducing explanations. Instead, use a new line, brackets, or the particle は.
注意：電源を切ってください。
Note: Please turn off the power.
注意：電源を切ってください。
Note: Please turn off the power.
The semicolon (;) is called セミコロン (semikoron). Both are used similarly to English but are less frequent in Japanese text. Japanese often uses other punctuation like 句点 (。) or 読点 (、) instead.