Translation guide
Expressing that something happens without interruption, continues over time, or is ongoing. Japanese uses different words and grammar depending on whether it's an unbroken sequence, a state that persists, or an action in progress.
Something that goes on without stopping, like continuous rain or a continuous line.
Used for a series of events or things that happen one after another without a break. Often used as a noun or with する.
連続した雨の日が続いている。
We've had continuous rainy days.
Literally 'without a gap', emphasizes that something never stops. Often used for sounds, efforts, or natural phenomena.
絶え間ない騒音で眠れなかった。
I couldn't sleep because of the continuous noise.
Means 'unbroken' or 'without interruption', often for a flow or stream of things.
車の流れが途切れない。
The flow of cars is continuous.
A state or action that persists, like continuous improvement or continuous support.
A formal adjective meaning 'continuous' in the sense of ongoing over time. Often used in business or technical contexts.
継続的な改善が必要だ。
Continuous improvement is necessary.
Similar to 継続的, but often implies sustainability or maintaining a state. Common in environmental or economic contexts.
The verb 'to continue'. Use in the ている form to describe something that is currently continuing.
An action that is ongoing right now, like 'I am continuously studying'.
The standard progressive form. It can mean an action in progress or a resulting state. For continuous action, it's often used with adverbs like ずっと.
彼は朝からずっと働いている。
He has been working continuously since morning.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'continue doing'. Emphasizes the continuation of the action.
彼女は話し続けた。
She talked continuously.
Something physical that is unbroken, like a continuous line or a continuous stretch of land.
Literally 'one long thing', used for a continuous line, road, etc.
一本の線を引いてください。
Please draw a continuous line.
Means 'without a break', used for physical things like a continuous stretch of forest.
切れ目のない森が広がっている。
A continuous forest stretches out.
連続 (renzoku) is for a series of discrete events happening one after another without pause. 継続的 (keizokuteki) is for something that persists over time, often with effort. 持続的 (jizokuteki) is similar but often implies sustainability or a natural continuation.
The word 連続的 (renzokuteki) exists but is less common than 連続 or 継続的. In many cases, 連続して or 連続した is more natural.
持続的な成長を目指す。
We aim for continuous growth.
The rain has been continuous.