Translation guide
The English word 'pad' has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones useful for English-speaking learners of Japanese, organized by practical meaning.
A soft piece of material used for comfort, protection, or cleaning.
The most common direct loanword for 'pad' in the sense of a cushion or protective covering, used in sports, electronics, and everyday items.
膝にパッドを当ててください。
Please put a pad on your knee.
Refers to a cushion or soft pad, often for furniture or as a shock absorber. More general than パッド.
椅子にクッションを置いた。
I put a cushion on the chair.
Traditional Japanese floor cushion, often used for sitting on tatami. Not a general 'pad' but a specific type.
座布団をどうぞ。
Please have a cushion.
A number of sheets of paper glued together at one edge, used for writing notes.
The standard term for a small notepad or memo pad. Very common.
メモ帳に書いてください。
Please write it on the notepad.
General term for a notebook, often used for school or work. Can refer to a pad if it's bound.
新しいノートを買った。
I bought a new notebook.
Writing paper, often for letters. Can refer to a pad of letter paper.
An absorbent item worn by women during menstruation.
The standard, polite term for a sanitary pad. Often shortened to ナプキン in context.
生理用ナプキンを買いに行く。
I'm going to buy sanitary pads.
Short for 生理用ナプキン, commonly used in everyday conversation. Can also mean 'napkin' in dining contexts, so context is key.
ナプキンを持ってきて。
Bring me a pad.
A flat area used for aircraft to take off and land.
General term for a landing/takeoff area for aircraft, including helicopters. Often combined with the type, e.g., ヘリ発着場.
ヘリコプターは発着場に着陸した。
The helicopter landed on the pad.
Specifically a helipad or heliport. Common in news and aviation contexts.
病院の屋上にヘリポートがある。
There is a helipad on the hospital roof.
A flat surface for a computer mouse or to protect a desk.
Standard term for a mouse pad. Very common.
新しいマウスパッドを買った。
I bought a new mouse pad.
A larger desk pad or desk mat, often used to protect the desk surface or as a writing surface.
The soft, fleshy part on the underside of an animal's paw or a human finger/toe.
Specifically refers to the pads on animal paws (cats, dogs, etc.). Very common and cute-sounding.
猫の肉球は柔らかい。
A cat's paw pads are soft.
Refers to the pad of a human finger (the fleshy part opposite the nail). Not used for animals.
Slang for one's home or apartment.
The most common word for 'room' or 'apartment'. In casual contexts, it can mean one's place.
今夜、俺の部屋に来ない？
Wanna come over to my pad tonight?
Means 'house' or 'home'. Can be used similarly to 'pad' in slang, but more general.
While 'pad' can mean apartment in English slang, Japanese does not have a direct slang equivalent. Use 部屋 or 家 depending on context. The loanword パッド is never used for this meaning.
俺の部屋に来る？
Coming to my pad?
パッド is typically a thinner, functional pad (e.g., knee pad, shoulder pad), while クッション is thicker and softer, often for comfort (e.g., sofa cushion). For sanitary pads, use 生理用ナプキン or ナプキン, not パッド.
便箋に手紙を書く。
I write a letter on writing paper.
I have a desk pad on my desk.
Press gently with the pad of your finger.
We had a party at his pad.