Translation guide
How to express 'lock up' in Japanese, covering securing doors, imprisoning, and freezing assets.
To fasten a lock so that something cannot be opened without a key or combination.
The most common and natural way to say 'lock up' for doors, windows, lockers, etc. Literally 'apply a key'.
出かける前に、必ず玄関の鍵をかけてください。
Please be sure to lock the front door before going out.
自転車の鍵をかけ忘れた。
I forgot to lock up my bicycle.
A formal term for locking, often used in written notices or official contexts.
夜間は正面玄関を施錠します。
The front entrance will be locked at night.
Loanword from English, common in casual speech or for electronic devices.
スマホをロックした？
Did you lock your phone?
Literally 'lower the lock', used for certain types of locks like deadbolts or traditional latches.
夜は門の錠を下ろしてください。
Please lock the gate at night.
To put a person in a locked room, jail, or psychiatric facility.
To lock someone in a room or confined space. Can be used for both intentional imprisonment and accidental confinement.
彼は子供を部屋に閉じ込めた。
He locked the child up in the room.
猫をベランダに閉じ込めないで。
Don't lock the cat out on the balcony.
Formal term for false imprisonment or kidnapping. Used in legal contexts.
彼は被害者を地下室に監禁した。
He locked the victim up in the basement.
Rough slang for throwing someone into jail or a confined space.
To put money, documents, or valuables in a locked container or secure storage.
Literally 'put away in a safe'. The most natural way to say 'lock up valuables'.
大事な書類は金庫にしまってください。
Please lock up the important documents in the safe.
More explicit: 'lock and store'. Used when emphasizing the locking action.
現金は鍵をかけて保管しています。
We keep the cash locked up.
To prevent access to money or property, often by legal order.
Standard term for freezing bank accounts or assets.
裁判所が彼の資産を凍結した。
The court locked up his assets.
To seize or attach property, often by legal authority. Implies physical or legal control.
税務署が彼の給料を差し押さえた。
The tax office locked up his wages.
While 鍵をかける means 'to lock', it is not used for imprisoning people. Use 閉じ込める or 監禁する instead.
彼を部屋に閉じ込めた。
I locked him up in the room.
あいつを刑務所にぶち込め！
Lock that guy up in prison!