Translation guide
The quality of being opaque, difficult to see through, or hard to understand. This guide covers physical opacity (not transparent), visual opacity in design, and figurative opacity (obscurity of meaning).
Describing something that light cannot pass through; the opposite of transparent.
The most direct and common word for physical opacity. Used for materials, glass, liquids, etc.
このガラスは不透明です。
This glass is opaque.
不透明な液体が容器に入っている。
An opaque liquid is in the container.
Technical term for opacity, often used in physics or optics. Less common in everyday speech.
この物質は光に対して不透過です。
This material is opaque to light.
Referring to the opacity property in graphic design, CSS, or image editing.
Standard term for opacity as a measurable property (e.g., 0% to 100%). Used in software and design contexts.
不透明度を50%に設定してください。
Set the opacity to 50%.
このレイヤーの不透明度を下げる。
Lower the opacity of this layer.
Literally 'transparency degree', but often used in technical settings to discuss opacity/transparency levels. Can be ambiguous, so 不透明度 is preferred for opacity.
画像の透過度を調整する。
Adjust the opacity of the image.
Describing language, writing, or meaning that is difficult to comprehend; lack of clarity.
Means 'hard to understand', 'abstruse'. Commonly used for complex texts, theories, or explanations.
彼の論文は難解で、内容が不透明だ。
His paper is abstruse and its content is opaque.
難解な法律用語は避けるべきだ。
Opaque legal jargon should be avoided.
Also used figuratively to mean 'unclear', 'vague', or 'obscure'. Often appears in news about politics or business when information is not disclosed.
Means 'ambiguous' or 'vague'. Overlaps with opacity when meaning is unclear, but focuses on lack of precision rather than deliberate obscurity.
Literary term for 'obscure' or 'abstruse', often used for writing style. Strongly implies intentional complexity.
不透明 (futoumei) is the most versatile, covering physical opacity and figurative lack of clarity. 曖昧 (aimai) means ambiguous/vague, often for statements or boundaries. 難解 (nankai) means difficult to understand, used for complex content. For 'opacity' in the sense of 'hard to see through', 不透明 is the best default.
ガラスが不透明で中が見えない。
The glass is opaque and I can't see inside.
彼の説明は曖昧で理解できなかった。
His explanation was opaque (ambiguous) and I couldn't understand.
この哲学書は難解すぎる。
This philosophy book is too opaque (hard to understand).
The loanword オパシティ (opashiti) is sometimes used in technical design contexts (e.g., Photoshop), but it is not a natural Japanese word for everyday opacity. Stick to 不透明 or 不透明度.
会社の将来計画は不透明だ。
The company's future plans are opaque.
不透明な意思決定プロセス。
An opaque decision-making process.
彼の返事は曖昧で、何を言いたいのかわからない。
His reply was opaque; I don't know what he wants to say.
A novel written in an opaque style.