Translation guide
The English word "episode" covers several distinct meanings. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression depending on whether you mean a TV/radio episode, a memorable event, a medical episode, or a story installment.
Referring to a single installment of a TV series, radio program, podcast, etc.
The most common counter/word for episodes of a series. Used as a suffix after numbers.
このアニメは全12話です。
This anime has 12 episodes in total.
第3話を見逃した。
I missed episode 3.
Loanword from English, commonly used for TV episodes, especially in casual contexts or when the number is not specified.
昨日のエピソード、見た？
Did you see yesterday's episode?
Counter for occurrences; used for episodes, especially in broadcast schedules. Often interchangeable with 話.
次回もお楽しみに。
Look forward to the next episode.
Referring to a noteworthy or interesting event in someone's life or in a story.
Used for anecdotes, personal stories, or interesting incidents. Very common in this sense.
彼には面白いエピソードがたくさんある。
He has many interesting episodes (stories) to tell.
旅行中の忘れられないエピソードを話してくれた。
He told me an unforgettable episode from his trip.
Means 'event' or 'incident'. More neutral and less story-like than エピソード. Suitable for factual accounts.
Anecdote, often about a famous person. More literary or formal.
Referring to a sudden occurrence of a medical condition, such as a seizure or psychotic break.
Used for sudden attacks or fits, such as epileptic seizures, asthma attacks, or heart episodes.
彼はてんかんの発作を起こした。
He had an epileptic episode.
Also used in medical contexts, especially for psychiatric episodes (e.g., depressive episode).
Referring to a self-contained part of a larger narrative, such as in a novel or serial.
Commonly used for a distinct story or incident within a larger work.
この小説はいくつかのエピソードで構成されている。
This novel is composed of several episodes.
Literary term for an inserted episode or digression. Rare in everyday speech.
話 (わ) is the standard counter for episodes and is used with numbers (e.g., 第5話). エピソード is a loanword and often used without numbers, or in casual conversation. Both are common, but 話 is more precise when specifying which episode.
第5話を見た。
I watched episode 5.
昨日のエピソードは面白かった。
Yesterday's episode was interesting.
While エピソード can mean a memorable event, it often implies a story-like quality. For a neutral 'event' or 'incident', use 出来事 (できごと). Using エピソード for a mundane occurrence may sound odd.
彼は子供の頃のエピソードを話してくれた。
He told us an episode from his childhood.
彼女は精神病のエピソードを起こした。
She had a psychotic episode.
That was the strangest episode (event) in my life.
This book contains many episodes (anecdotes) about the author.
The depressive episode recurred.
This episode is unrelated to the main plot.