Translation guide
The English word "pip" has several distinct meanings, from fruit seeds to electronic sounds. This guide covers the most common meanings useful for English-speaking learners of Japanese.
Referring to the small hard seed inside an apple, orange, grape, etc.
General word for seed, pit, or stone. Covers most fruit seeds.
Please remove the apple seeds.
Technical/formal term for seed, used in botanical or scientific contexts.
この植物は種子から育てます。
This plant is grown from seeds.
Specifically the small seeds in grapes, oranges, lemons, etc., often considered undesirable.
Same word as above; context makes it clear. Often used with fruit name.
ぶどうの種が気になる。
The grape seeds bother me.
Seedless (fruit). Common in stores.
種なしぶどうを買った。
I bought seedless grapes.
A brief beep or tone, like a phone notification, timer, or electronic device.
Onomatopoeia for a short electronic beep. Very common.
電子レンジがピッと鳴った。
The microwave beeped.
A longer or continuous beep, like a timer or error sound.
タイマーがピーッと鳴った。
The timer went off with a beep.
Formal term for electronic sound. Used in technical descriptions.
The symbols (spades, hearts, etc.) or dots indicating value.
General term for suit symbol on cards. Also used for pips on dice.
このカードのマークは何ですか？
What is the suit of this card?
Specifically for dice pips or the number rolled.
サイコロの目は６だった。
The dice showed a six.
Borrowed from English 'suit', used in card games.
スペードのスートが一番強い。
The spade suit is the strongest.
A star or other symbol indicating rank.
General term for rank insignia.
彼の肩には大佐の階級章があった。
He had a colonel's insignia on his shoulder.
Star-shaped pip, often used for generals or admirals.
将軍は星を三つ付けている。
The general wears three stars.
A contagious disease affecting poultry, often respiratory.
General term for avian infectious disease. Not specific to 'pip' but understood in context.
その鶏は伝染病にかかっている。
That chicken has an infectious disease.
Direct loanword, used in veterinary contexts.
ピップは鳥の呼吸器病です。
Pip is a respiratory disease of birds.
English 'pip' for a beep is onomatopoeic. Japanese uses ピッ or ピーッ, not a direct translation. Using 種 for a sound would be nonsense.
種 (たね) works for both, but for larger pits like peach, 核 (かく) or 種 (たね) can be used. 種 is the safest choice.
この機械はエラー時に電子音が鳴ります。
This machine emits an electronic sound when an error occurs.