Translation guide
The English word "quarter" has several distinct meanings, including one-fourth of something, a 25-cent coin, a three-month period, and a district of a city. This guide covers the most common ways to express these in Japanese, organized by meaning.
Expressing the fraction 1/4 or a quarter of something.
The standard way to say 'one quarter' as a fraction. Literally 'one of four parts'.
ケーキの四分の一を食べた。
I ate a quarter of the cake.
A quarter of the participants were women.
Used specifically for a quarter of a year in business or financial contexts. Not for general fractions.
第1四半期の売上は好調だった。
Sales in the first quarter were strong.
Often used in statistics or when percentages are more natural. Equivalent to one quarter.
約25パーセントの人が賛成した。
About a quarter of the people agreed.
Referring to the coin worth 25 cents.
The standard term for a quarter coin. Often shortened to '25セント' in conversation.
25セント硬貨を4枚ください。
Please give me four quarters.
自動販売機に25セントを入れた。
I put a quarter into the vending machine.
Loanword from English, understood but less common than the descriptive term. Used in contexts like coin collecting or when speaking English-influenced Japanese.
Referring to a period of three months, especially in business, academic, or financial contexts.
The standard term for a fiscal or calendar quarter. Used in business reports, earnings, etc.
次の四半期の計画を立てよう。
Let's make a plan for the next quarter.
この四半期の利益は過去最高だ。
This quarter's profits are the highest ever.
Literally 'three months'. Used in everyday contexts when not referring to formal business quarters.
3か月ごとに健康診断を受ける。
I get a health checkup every quarter (every three months).
Referring to a specific part of a city, often with a distinct character.
General word for district, zone, or area. Can be used for residential, commercial, or historical quarters.
この地区には古い寺が多い。
There are many old temples in this quarter.
商業地区に新しい店ができた。
A new shop opened in the commercial quarter.
Often used for a lively or distinctive quarter, like a shopping or entertainment district. Can also mean 'town'.
More formal or administrative term for a zone or area. Used in official contexts.
Showing mercy or sparing an enemy's life. Rare in modern English, but sometimes encountered in historical contexts.
Literary term meaning 'sparing a life'. Used in historical or dramatic contexts.
敵に助命を請う。
To beg the enemy for quarter.
Plain phrase meaning 'to spare a life'. More common than 助命 but still not everyday.
彼は敵の命を助けた。
He gave quarter to the enemy.
四半期 (しはんき) is specifically a three-month period in business or fiscal contexts. 四分の一 (よんぶんのいち) is the general fraction 'one quarter'. Do not use 四半期 for a quarter of a cake or distance.
第2四半期の決算を発表した。
They announced the second quarter financial results.
ピザの四分の一を食べた。
I ate a quarter of the pizza.
The loanword クォーター is only used for the coin or occasionally in sports (e.g., quarterfinal). It is not used to mean 'one fourth' in general. Use 四分の一 instead.
✕ クォーターの人が反対した。
Intended: A quarter of the people opposed.
◯ 四分の一の人が反対した。
A quarter of the people opposed.
このクォーターは珍しい。
This quarter is rare.
It's a district famous for its student quarter.
Parking is prohibited in this quarter.