Translation guide
A small thin piece of metal with a point, used for fastening things or as a fastener. Also a verb meaning to attach or hold something in place.
The learner wants to refer to a physical pin, such as a sewing pin, safety pin, or pushpin.
The most common and general word for 'pin' in Japanese, borrowed from English. Used for many types of pins, including hairpins, safety pins, and pushpins.
ピンで留めてください。
Please fasten it with a pin.
Specifically a sewing pin used to hold fabric in place before sewing.
待ち針を布に刺す。
Stick a pin into the cloth.
A safety pin, the kind with a clasp.
安全ピンで留める。
Fasten with a safety pin.
A thumbtack or pushpin, used for attaching paper to a bulletin board.
画鋲でポスターを壁に留める。
Pin the poster to the wall with a thumbtack.
The learner wants to refer to a decorative pin worn on clothing.
A pin badge, often used for promotional or identification purposes.
ピンバッジを胸に付ける。
Put a pin badge on one's chest.
A brooch, a decorative jewelry pin.
The learner wants to express the action of pinning something.
The most direct way to say 'to pin' using the noun ピン and the verb 留める (to fasten).
写真をピンで留める。
Pin the photo.
A general verb meaning 'to fasten' or 'to attach'. Can be used without specifying the tool if context is clear.
布を留める。
Pin the fabric.
Means 'to pierce' or 'to stick into'. Used when emphasizing the action of inserting a pin into something.
針を刺す。
Stick a pin in.
The learner wants to express pinning someone down physically or metaphorically.
Means to pin down or hold down by force. Can be used physically or metaphorically.
彼を床に押さえつけた。
I pinned him to the floor.
A more general verb meaning 'to hold down' or 'to restrain'.
Specifically means to pin someone down in a fight or wrestling context.
The learner wants to express pinning something on someone, like blame or a crime.
Literally 'to make someone wear a crime', meaning to pin a crime on someone or frame them.
彼に罪を着せようとした。
They tried to pin the crime on him.
Means to make someone bear responsibility, to pin the responsibility on someone.
失敗の責任を彼に負わせた。
They pinned the blame for the failure on him.
While ピン is widely understood, specific types of pins have their own words (e.g., 安全ピン for safety pin, 画鋲 for thumbtack). Using the specific word is more natural in many contexts.
留める (tomeru) focuses on fastening, while 刺す (sasu) focuses on the piercing action. Use 留める when the result is attaching, and 刺す when emphasizing the insertion.
彼女はドレスに花をピンで留めた。
She pinned the flower to her dress.
彼はポスターを壁に画鋲で留めた。
He pinned the poster on the wall.
レスラーは相手を組み伏せた。
The wrestler pinned his opponent.
彼女は美しいブローチを付けていた。
She was wearing a beautiful brooch.
風で飛ばないように紙を押さえる。
Hold the paper down so it doesn't blow away.
相手を組み伏せる。
Pin the opponent down.