Translation guide
The English verb 'restart' means to start something again after it has stopped. In Japanese, the most natural way to express this depends on what is being restarted: a machine, a process, an activity, or a system. Common verbs include 再起動する for computers/devices, やり直す for tasks/activities, and 再開する for resuming something that was paused.
To cause a machine, computer, or electronic system to shut down and start again, or to reboot.
The standard term for restarting a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device. It implies a full shutdown and reboot.
パソコンを再起動してください。
Please restart your computer.
My smartphone froze, so I restarted it.
A loanword from English, commonly used in casual or technical contexts for restarting devices, software, or games.
ゲームをリスタートする。
Restart the game.
A slightly more technical or formal phrase meaning 'to initiate a restart', often used in IT contexts.
サーバーに再起動をかける必要がある。
We need to restart the server.
To begin an activity or task again from the start, often after a failure or interruption.
Means 'to do over' or 'to redo'. It implies starting a task or activity again from scratch, often to correct mistakes.
最初からやり直そう。
Let's restart from the beginning.
書類にミスがあったので、全部やり直した。
There was a mistake in the documents, so I restarted everything.
Literally 'start from the beginning'. A straightforward phrase for restarting an activity.
うまくいかなかったので、最初から始めます。
It didn't go well, so I'll restart from the beginning.
Used for restarting a match, game, or negotiation, often after a pause or reset. Common in sports or business.
試合を仕切り直す。
Restart the match.
To continue an activity, process, or event after a temporary stop, without starting over from the beginning.
Means 'to resume' or 'to reopen'. It implies continuing from where you left off, not starting over.
会議を再開しましょう。
Let's restart the meeting.
工事は来月再開される。
Construction will restart next month.
A hybrid loanword meaning 'to restart' or 'to make a fresh start'. Can imply both resuming and starting anew depending on context.
心機一転、再スタートを切る。
Turn over a new leaf and restart.
To make a fresh start in life, work, or personal relationships, often after a major change.
Means 'to make a fresh start' or 'to set out again'. Used for restarting one's life, career, or a project after a setback.
彼は新しい街で再出発した。
He restarted his life in a new city.
Literally 'redo from one', meaning to start completely over from scratch. Emphasizes a total reset.
失敗を経験して、一からやり直すことにした。
After experiencing failure, I decided to restart from scratch.
再起動 is for machines and systems (reboot). 再開 is for resuming an interrupted activity (continue). やり直す is for redoing a task from the beginning (start over). Choose based on whether you are rebooting, resuming, or redoing.
パソコンを再起動する。
Restart the computer.
会議を再開する。
Restart the meeting (resume).
宿題をやり直す。
Restart the homework (redo).
リスタート is a loanword mainly used for devices, software, and games. Using it for life or career restarts sounds unnatural. Use 再出発 or やり直し instead.