Translation guide
The English word "commission" has several distinct meanings: a fee paid to an agent, a formal request to create something, an official group or committee, the act of granting authority, and more. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese equivalents for each.
Express a payment to a salesperson, agent, or broker based on a percentage of a sale or transaction.
General term for a commission or handling fee. Commonly used in business and financial contexts.
この取引の手数料は3%です。
The commission for this transaction is 3%.
Loanword from English, widely understood in sales and business. Often used for sales commissions.
営業マンは売上の10%をコミッションとして受け取る。
The salesperson receives a 10% commission on sales.
Traditional term for broker's commission, often used in real estate or commodity trading. Less common in everyday speech.
不動産の売買では口銭が発生します。
In real estate transactions, a broker's commission is charged.
Express the act of officially asking someone to produce a work, such as a piece of art, music, or a report.
General term for a request or commission. Can be used for both formal and informal requests.
彼に絵の制作を依頼した。
I commissioned him to create a painting.
Formal term for entrusting or commissioning work, often used in business or legal contexts.
Specifically means to commission the creation of something. Natural for artistic or creative works.
その彫刻家に記念碑の制作を依頼した。
We commissioned the sculptor to create a monument.
Refer to a group of people officially appointed to perform a task or investigate something.
Standard term for a committee or commission. Used in government, organizations, and formal settings.
政府は問題を調査するための委員会を設置した。
The government set up a commission to investigate the issue.
A deliberative council or commission, often advisory. Common in government contexts.
Loanword used for certain international or specific commissions, like the European Commission.
Express the formal act of giving someone the power to act in a certain capacity, or putting something into service (e.g., a ship).
Refers to the appointment or commissioning of a person to a position or role.
彼は将校に任命された。
He was commissioned as an officer.
Specifically used for the commissioning of a ship into naval service.
General phrase meaning to grant authority or empower someone. Can be used for commissioning in a broader sense.
彼に交渉の権限を与えた。
He was commissioned to negotiate.
Describe the status of an officer or ship being in active service.
Means active duty or in commission. Used for both personnel and equipment.
その軍艦はまだ現役だ。
The warship is still in commission.
Specifically means 'in commission' for a ship. More formal and technical.
その艦は現在就役中である。
The vessel is currently in commission.
Do not use 委託 (itaku) or 任命 (ninmei) when you mean a sales commission. Those words refer to entrusting or appointing, not a fee. Use 手数料 (tesūryō) or コミッション (komisshon) instead.
依頼 (irai) is a general request, while 委託 (itaku) implies a formal, often contractual, entrustment. For artistic commissions, 依頼 is more natural; for business outsourcing, 委託 is common.
We commission an external organization to conduct the survey.
教育政策についての審議会が開かれた。
A commission on education policy was held.
欧州委員会は新しい規制を提案した。
The European Commission proposed new regulations.
新しい空母が就役した。
The new aircraft carrier was commissioned.