Translation guide
The English word "garage" can refer to a building for storing cars, a repair shop, or a music genre. In Japanese, different words are used depending on the meaning.
A room or building attached to or near a house where a car is kept.
General term for a garage or carport. Often used in legal or formal contexts, but also in daily life.
I put the car in the garage.
Loanword from English. Commonly used for a private garage attached to a house, especially in modern homes.
ガレージに自転車も置いています。
I also keep my bicycle in the garage.
Parking lot or parking space. Can refer to an outdoor parking area rather than an enclosed garage. Use when the structure is not emphasized.
アパートの駐車場は屋根がありません。
The apartment's parking lot doesn't have a roof.
A business where cars are repaired or serviced.
Repair shop or garage. General term for a place where mechanical repairs are done.
車の調子が悪いので修理工場に持っていきます。
My car is acting up, so I'm taking it to the garage.
Automobile maintenance shop. More specific and formal than 修理工場.
この自動車整備工場は評判がいいです。
This garage has a good reputation.
Sometimes used for a repair shop, especially one specializing in custom or foreign cars, but less common than 修理工場.
A style of electronic dance music originating in the UK.
Japanese term for UK garage music. Note the different katakana spelling from the building.
彼はガラージのDJです。
He's a garage DJ.
Explicitly refers to UK garage to distinguish from US garage house.
この曲はUKガラージの名曲です。
This track is a classic UK garage tune.
A filling station that also offers car repairs, common in older or rural settings.
Gas station. In Japan, many gas stations offer basic maintenance and repairs, so this can sometimes translate 'garage' in context.
近所のガソリンスタンドでタイヤ交換をしてもらいました。
I had my tires changed at the local garage.
車庫 is a generic term for any car storage structure, while ガレージ often implies a Western-style enclosed garage attached to a house. In legal documents (like rental contracts), 車庫 is preferred.
While ガレージ is a common loanword, it primarily means a private car storage building. For a repair shop, 修理工場 is more natural. For the music genre, use ガラージ.
彼はガレージを経営しています。
He runs a garage.