Translation guide
The English phrase 'lumping together' means grouping things or people without careful distinction, often in a way that is overly simplistic or unfair. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and phrases that convey combining, bundling, or treating as one, with nuances of carelessness, convenience, or negative connotation.
To express that different items, people, or ideas are being treated as the same group, often inappropriately or unfairly.
Don't lump all these issues together. · He lumps together work and hobbies.
A common, slightly informal phrase meaning to mix things together indiscriminately, often with a negative nuance of jumbling or lumping together without proper distinction.
彼は仕事とプライベートを一緒くたにしている。
He lumps together work and private life.
重要な問題と些細な問題を一緒くたにしてはいけない。
You shouldn't lump together important issues and trivial ones.
An idiomatic expression meaning to lump various things together as one, often with a dismissive or sweeping generalization. Literally 'bundling ten things in one bunch'.
彼はすべての反対意見を十把一絡げにして批判した。
He criticized all opposing opinions by lumping them together.
Literally 'to tie into one bundle', used to mean lumping together or grouping things under one category, sometimes without careful distinction.
多様な意見を一括りにしてはいけない。
You shouldn't lump together diverse opinions.
Means to jumble or mix up things in a disorderly way, implying a messy lumping together. More about physical mixing but can be used metaphorically.
書類をごちゃ混ぜにしてしまった。
I lumped all the documents together in a mess.
To express that items are grouped together for practical reasons, such as in a package deal or summary, without negative connotation.
We can lump these tasks together to save time. · The report lumps all the data into one chart.
A versatile verb meaning to collect, summarize, or put together. Can be used for lumping together in a neutral or positive sense, like consolidating tasks or items.
注文をまとめて送ってください。
Please lump the orders together and send them.
彼は要点をまとめて説明した。
He explained by lumping together the main points.
Literally 'to combine into one', emphasizing the act of making separate things into a single group or unit.
これらのファイルを一つにまとめましょう。
Let's lump these files together into one.
A formal term meaning to lump together or batch process, often used in business or technical contexts for handling things collectively.
請求書を一括して処理する。
We process invoices by lumping them together.
Means to tie or bundle things together physically, but can be used metaphorically for grouping. More concrete than other options.
To express that individuals are being stereotyped or not recognized for their differences, often in a critical way.
Don't lump all teenagers together. · She lumps her employees together and ignores their individual strengths.
As above, but specifically used for people when criticizing the act of ignoring individual differences.
若者を一括りにして批判するのはよくない。
It's not good to lump all young people together and criticize them.
Stronger idiomatic expression for lumping people together dismissively.
外国人を十把一絡げにしてはいけない。
You shouldn't lump all foreigners together.
Literally 'to treat in the same way', a more straightforward phrase that can convey lumping together without the idiomatic flavor.
彼はすべての生徒を同じように扱う。
He lumps all students together and treats them the same.
The English phrase 'lumping together' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Using a literal translation like '塊にする' (かたまりにする) would sound unnatural. Instead, choose from the phrases above based on context and nuance.
一緒くたにする is more colloquial and often carries a negative, messy connotation, while 一括りにする is more neutral and can be used in both negative and neutral contexts. 一括する is formal and used in business/technical settings.
He lumped the papers together and put them on the shelf.