Translation guide
To express that something is far away in Japanese, the most common word is 遠い (とおい). However, Japanese has several related words and expressions that convey distance, remoteness, or being far off, depending on context and nuance.
Describing a place or object that is far away in physical space.
The most common and general adjective for 'far away' or 'distant'. Used for physical distance.
駅はここから遠いですか。
Is the station far from here?
彼の家は遠いところにある。
His house is in a faraway place.
Noun or adverb form of 遠い, meaning 'far away' or 'in the distance'. Often used as 遠くに (in the distance) or 遠くから (from afar).
Adverb or na-adjective meaning 'far away', 'distant', or 'by far'. Often used in literary or emphatic contexts. Can also mean 'much' or 'far' in comparisons.
遥か彼方に島が見えた。
A distant island was visible far away.
Describing events that are far in the past or future.
Also used for temporal distance, meaning 'far off' or 'distant' in time.
遠い昔の話です。
It's a story from the distant past.
完成はまだ遠い未来だ。
Completion is still in the far future.
Emphasizes great temporal distance, often used in poetic or formal contexts.
Describing a relationship or similarity that is distant or not close.
Describing a person who seems distant, absent-minded, or emotionally detached.
Idiomatic phrase meaning 'to have a faraway look in one's eyes', indicating someone is lost in thought or reminiscing.
彼女は遠い目をして窓の外を見ていた。
She was looking out the window with a faraway look.
Can describe a person's attitude or mind as being 'far away' or detached.
彼の心はここから遠いところにあるようだ。
His mind seems to be somewhere far away.
Describing a sound that is faint or distant.
Used for sounds that are heard from a distance, meaning 'faint' or 'distant'.
遠い雷の音が聞こえる。
I can hear distant thunder.
Adverbial phrase meaning 'in the distance' or 'far away', often used with verbs of hearing or seeing.
遠くで犬が吠えている。
A dog is barking in the distance.
遠い (とおい) is the standard word for 'far' in both physical and metaphorical senses. 遥か (はるか) is more emphatic and literary, often used for great distances or in poetic descriptions. In everyday speech, 遠い is preferred.
遠慮 (えんりょ) means 'reserve' or 'restraint', not physical distance. It shares the kanji 遠 but is unrelated to 'far away'.
Long, long ago, there was a kingdom in this land.
彼の実力はプロにはほど遠い。
His skill is far from professional level.