Translation guide
How to express 'concentrate' in Japanese depends on whether you mean focusing your mind, gathering things together, or a substance being condensed. The most common way to say 'I'm concentrating' is 集中する (しゅうちゅうする).
集中できません。
I can't concentrate.
仕事に集中しなさい。
Concentrate on your work.
To direct your mental effort or attention toward something, such as work, study, or a task.
The most common and versatile verb for concentrating your mind or attention. Can be used for studying, working, or focusing on a specific thing.
試験に集中しなければならない。
I have to concentrate on the exam.
He is concentrating on his work.
Implies devoting yourself entirely to one thing, often for a period of time. Slightly more formal than 集中する.
彼女は研究に専念している。
She is devoting herself to her research.
Literally 'don't scatter your mind', used to tell someone to stay focused or not get distracted.
気を散らさないでください。
Please concentrate (don't get distracted).
To be absorbed or immersed in something, often a hobby or interest. Stronger than 集中する.
彼はゲームに没頭している。
He is absorbed in the game.
To collect people or things into one place, or to focus resources in a single area.
Transitive verb meaning to gather or collect things or people. Use when you actively bring things together.
彼は資料を一か所に集めた。
He concentrated the materials in one place.
Causative form of 集中する, meaning to make something concentrate or to centralize. Often used for resources, power, or effort.
政府は権力を集中させた。
The government concentrated power.
Intransitive verb meaning to gather or come together. Use when things or people gather on their own.
To make a liquid or substance thicker, stronger, or more dense, often by removing water or other diluting agents.
Technical term for concentrating a liquid, like juice or chemicals. Common in cooking and science.
このジュースは濃縮されています。
This juice is concentrated.
To boil down a liquid to concentrate its flavor or thickness. Used in cooking.
ソースを煮詰めてください。
Please concentrate the sauce by boiling it down.
集中する is the general word for concentrating your mind. 専念する implies a longer-term devotion or single-minded focus, often on a project or goal. 専念する is slightly more formal and less common in casual speech.
While 集中する can mean 'concentrate' in the sense of centralizing power or resources, it is not used for physically gathering objects. Use 集める for that.
人々が広場に集まった。
People concentrated in the square.