Translation guide
The English word "digest" has two main meanings: to process food in the body, and to mentally process or understand information. It can also refer to a compilation or summary of information. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each use.
To break down food in the stomach and intestines so the body can absorb nutrients.
The standard verb for digesting food. Used in both casual and formal contexts.
この食べ物は消化しやすい。
This food is easy to digest.
The stomach digests food.
The noun form meaning 'digestion'. Often used in compounds or formal writing.
消化に時間がかかる。
Digestion takes time.
To think about and understand new information, ideas, or experiences.
The same verb as for food, metaphorically extended to mean mentally processing information. Very common.
新しい情報を消化するのに時間がかかった。
It took time to digest the new information.
Literally 'to organize in one's head'. A natural way to express mentally processing or sorting out information.
今日の会議の内容を頭の中で整理している。
I'm digesting what was discussed in today's meeting.
Simply means 'to understand'. Use when the focus is on comprehension rather than the process of breaking down information.
彼の説明を理解するのに苦労した。
I struggled to digest his explanation.
A collection of information, often shortened or condensed, such as a digest of news or a literary digest.
A loanword from English, widely used for a summary or compilation, especially in media contexts like 'news digest' or 'digest version'.
週刊ニュースダイジェストを読む。
I read the weekly news digest.
この本は古典文学のダイジェスト版だ。
This book is a digest of classic literature.
Means 'summary' or 'digest'. More formal and often used in academic or professional contexts.
A formal term for an abstract or digest, often used for academic papers or official documents.
消化する implies a gradual process of breaking down and absorbing information, similar to digestion. 理解する simply means 'to understand' and focuses on the result. Use 消化する when emphasizing the time or effort needed to fully grasp something.
この概念を消化するには時間が必要だ。
I need time to digest this concept.
彼はすぐに理解した。
He understood immediately.
報告書の要約を作成する。
I create a digest of the report.
学会の抄録集を読む。
I read the conference digest.