Translation guide
A guide to expressing the concept of 'memoirs' in Japanese, covering personal written accounts, formal autobiographies, and related terms.
A book or written account of one's personal experiences and memories.
The most direct and common translation for 'memoirs' as a literary work. It refers to a written record of one's recollections.
彼は戦争の回想録を出版した。
He published his war memoirs.
その回想録はベストセラーになった。
The memoirs became a bestseller.
Autobiography; often used when the memoirs cover the author's entire life story, not just specific events.
彼女の自叙伝は感動的だ。
Her memoirs (autobiography) are moving.
Loanword from French 'mémoire', used in literary contexts or as a stylistic choice. Less common than 回想録.
彼のメモワールは文学賞を受賞した。
His memoirs won a literary prize.
One's collected memories or reminiscences, possibly in spoken or informal form.
General term for memories or recollections. Can be used for memoirs in a broad sense, but not specifically a published book.
祖母は若い頃の思い出を語った。
My grandmother recounted her memoirs (memories) of her youth.
Similar to 回想録, but often implies a more reflective or retrospective account, sometimes used for historical memoirs.
Memoirs of a notable person, often with historical significance.
Biography; can be used for memoirs if written by the subject, though it typically implies a third-person account. Use with caution.
伝記 usually means a biography written by someone else. If the author is the subject, 自伝 (じでん) or 自叙伝 is clearer.
この伝記は彼自身によって書かれた。
This biography (memoirs) was written by himself.
Autobiography; a more concise term than 自叙伝, commonly used for memoirs of famous people.
回想録 focuses on specific memories or periods, while 自叙伝 and 自伝 cover the author's entire life. 自叙伝 is more formal/literary than 自伝.
The English word 'memory' is 記憶 (きおく) or 思い出 (おもいで) in Japanese. メモリー usually refers to computer memory or the cognitive faculty, not a memoir.
彼は外交官としての回顧録を書いた。
He wrote his memoirs as a diplomat.
His memoirs (autobiography) have been translated into many languages.