Translation guide
The English word "compound" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a chemical substance, an enclosed area, and the verb meaning to make something worse. Other meanings like financial compounding or linguistic compounds are less frequent for everyday use.
A substance formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together.
The standard scientific term for a chemical compound. Used in chemistry and everyday contexts.
水は水素と酸素の化合物です。
Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
この化合物は有毒です。
This compound is toxic.
A broader term meaning 'chemical substance'. Can be used for compounds but is less specific.
その化学物質は実験室で合成されました。
The chemical compound was synthesized in the lab.
An area enclosed by a fence or wall, containing a group of buildings.
Refers to the premises or grounds of a facility like a school, factory, or military base. Often used in compounds like 学校構内 (school compound).
工場の構内にはいくつかの建物があります。
There are several buildings within the factory compound.
学校の構内では喫煙は禁止されています。
Smoking is prohibited on the school compound.
Means 'site' or 'grounds'. Can be used for a compound but is more general, like a plot of land.
Refers to a housing complex or apartment block area. Sometimes translated as 'compound' for residential areas.
To make a problem or difficult situation worse.
The most direct translation for 'to compound a problem'. Literally 'to worsen'. Used in formal and informal contexts.
彼の説明が状況を悪化させた。
His explanation compounded the situation.
雨が交通渋滞を悪化させた。
The rain compounded the traffic jam.
A more colloquial phrase meaning 'to make even worse'. Suitable for everyday speech.
彼の態度が事態をさらに悪くした。
His attitude compounded the situation.
Means 'to pile up' or 'to repeat'. Can be used in phrases like 失敗を重ねる (to compound mistakes), implying accumulation.
Interest calculated on the initial principal and also on the accumulated interest of previous periods.
The standard term for compound interest. Used in finance.
複利で投資すると、資産が早く増えます。
If you invest with compound interest, your assets grow faster.
Refers to the calculation of compound interest. Often used in banking contexts.
この口座は複利計算で利息がつきます。
This account earns interest with compound calculation.
A word made up of two or more existing words.
The linguistic term for a compound word. Used in grammar and language study.
「本棚」は「本」と「棚」の複合語です。
"Bookshelf" is a compound of "book" and "shelf".
In chemistry, a compound (化合物) is chemically bonded, while a mixture (混合物) is just physically combined. Using 混合物 for a compound would be inaccurate.
空気は混合物ですが、水は化合物です。
Air is a mixture, but water is a compound.
In English, 'compound' can sometimes overlap with 'complex' (as in a building complex). In Japanese, 構内 (compound) emphasizes the enclosed area, while 複合施設 (complex) emphasizes multiple facilities. Use 構内 for a single institution's grounds, and 複合施設 for a multi-purpose development.
The embassy compound is large.
Many families live in that housing compound.
彼は失敗を重ねて、プロジェクトを台無しにした。
He compounded his mistakes and ruined the project.