Translation guide
How to express the way events unfold, progress, or develop over time in Japanese.
Describing the natural flow, progression, or outcome of a situation or series of events.
The most common and natural word for the natural course of events, often implying letting things take their own course without interference.
Focusing on the chain or progression of events, often in a narrative or explanatory context.
Refers to the detailed circumstances or chain of events leading up to a situation, often used when explaining how something came about.
Expressing that something happens while something else is ongoing.
Attach to a noun indicating an activity or event to mean 'in the course of' or 'during'.
会議中に電話が鳴った。
The phone rang in the course of the meeting.
成り行き emphasizes the natural, uncontrolled flow of events. 経過 is neutral and often used in formal reports for the progression of time or events. 経緯 focuses on the detailed circumstances or chain of events leading to a current state, often used in explanations.
Direct translations like 'イベントのコース' are unnatural. Use the words and patterns above depending on the nuance you want to convey.
We can only watch how things unfold.
成り行きに任せよう。
Let's just let things take their course.
Refers to the passage or progress of events, often used in more formal or written contexts to describe how something proceeded.
事件の経過を報告してください。
Please report on the course of the incident.
Describes transitions or changes over time, often used in news or analytical contexts for trends or developments.
情勢の推移を見守る。
We are watching the course of the situation.
Literally 'flow', used metaphorically for the natural stream of events or conversation.
話の流れでそうなった。
It happened in the course of the conversation.
事の経緯を説明します。
I will explain the course of events.
Means 'process' or 'course', emphasizing the stages or steps in a development.
その過程で多くの問題が起きた。
Many problems arose in the course of events.
Literally 'path' or 'route', used figuratively for the logical or expected course of events.
事件の道筋をたどる。
Trace the course of events.
Used with verbs to mean 'while' or 'in the course of', often implying a change or opportunity.
話しているうちに分かってきた。
I came to understand in the course of talking.