Translation guide
The English word "degree" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: academic qualification, extent/level, unit of measurement for angles and temperature, and a few other uses. Each meaning is explained with natural Japanese expressions.
Referring to a university degree (bachelor's, master's, etc.)
The standard term for an academic degree. Used in formal contexts.
彼は経済学の学位を持っています。
He has a degree in economics.
学位を取得するには何年かかりますか？
How many years does it take to get a degree?
Specifically a bachelor's degree. Use 修士号 (しゅうしごう) for master's and 博士号 (はくしごう) for doctorate.
彼女は学士号を取ったばかりです。
She just got her bachelor's degree.
Abbreviation for 大学卒業 (university graduation). Often used in contexts like '大卒以上' (college graduate or above).
この仕事は大卒以上が条件です。
This job requires a college degree or higher.
Expressing the amount, intensity, or degree of something
The most common word for 'degree' as in extent or level. Used in many contexts.
ある程度の経験が必要です。
A certain degree of experience is necessary.
この程度のミスなら問題ない。
A mistake of this degree is not a problem.
Similar to 程度, but often implies a more measurable or observable degree. Slightly more formal.
Used in patterns like ～ほど (to the degree that) or ～のほど (extent of). Often in set phrases.
驚くほどの速さで成長した。
He grew at a surprising degree of speed.
Nominalizer that turns adjectives into nouns expressing degree (e.g., 高さ = height/degree of tallness).
その問題の難しさに驚いた。
I was surprised at the degree of difficulty of the problem.
Referring to degrees of an angle
The counter for degrees of an angle. Simply attach to a number.
直角は90度です。
A right angle is 90 degrees.
180度回転してください。
Please rotate 180 degrees.
Referring to degrees of temperature
The counter for temperature degrees. Used with Celsius (摂氏, せっし) or Fahrenheit (華氏, かし).
今日の気温は30度を超えた。
Today's temperature exceeded 30 degrees.
お湯は100度で沸騰する。
Water boils at 100 degrees.
Expressing 'to some degree' or 'to a certain extent'
Fixed phrase meaning 'to some degree' or 'to a certain extent'.
ある程度は同意できます。
I can agree to a certain degree.
ある程度のリスクは覚悟している。
I'm prepared for a certain degree of risk.
Means 'more or less' or 'to some degree'. Often used in formal contexts.
Referring to the closeness of a relationship or steps in kinship
Legal term for degree of kinship. Rare in daily conversation.
彼はいとこなので、四親等にあたる。
Since he is my cousin, he is a relative of the fourth degree.
Referring to the degree of comparison (positive, comparative, superlative)
Used in linguistics. 原級 (positive degree), 比較級 (comparative degree), 最上級 (superlative degree).
英語の形容詞には比較級と最上級がある。
English adjectives have comparative and superlative degrees.
Both mean 'degree/extent', but 程度 is more common and general. 度合い often implies a measurable or observable degree and is slightly more formal. In many cases they are interchangeable.
被害の程度を調査する。
Investigate the degree of damage.
被害の度合いを調査する。
Investigate the extent of damage.
度 (ど) is the counter for degrees (angle/temperature). 度 (たび) means 'time/occasion'. They are different words.
この度はありがとうございます。
Thank you for this occasion. (NOT 'degree')
彼は物理学の学位を取得した。
He earned a degree in physics.
このデータはどの程度信頼できますか？
To what degree can we trust this data?
気温がマイナス5度まで下がった。
The temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees.
The response changes depending on the degree of danger.
I apologize for the degree of inconvenience caused.
A certain degree of error is acceptable.