Translation guide
The English word "sap" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: tree sap, to drain energy, and a foolish person.
The fluid that circulates in plants, especially trees.
To gradually make someone weaker or less energetic.
Means 'to exhaust' or 'to wear out'. Transitive verb. Commonly used for draining energy.
長時間の会議は体力を消耗させる。
Long meetings sap your energy.
A silly or gullible person (slang).
Means 'fool' or 'idiot'. Common and mildly insulting. Similar tone to 'sap' as a foolish person.
Avoid directly translating 'sap' as 樹液 when you mean 'to weaken'. Use verbs like 消耗させる or 弱らせる instead.
The sap of this tree is sweet.
Means 'liquid' or 'juice'. Can refer to sap in context, but is broader. Often used in compounds.
植物の液が出ている。
The plant's sap is oozing out.
Means 'juice' or 'broth'. Can refer to plant sap, but sounds more colloquial or culinary. Use with caution.
草の汁が服についた。
The grass sap got on my clothes.
Means 'to weaken'. Can be used for physical or mental weakening.
病気が彼を弱らせた。
The illness sapped his strength.
Literally 'to take away spirit/energy'. Natural phrase for sapping morale or motivation.
単調な仕事は気力を奪う。
Monotonous work saps your motivation.
Means 'to eat into' or 'to erode'. Used figuratively for something that gradually weakens, like disease or worry.
不安が心を蝕んでいる。
Anxiety is sapping my spirit.
あんな間抜けは見たことがない。
I've never seen such a sap.
Means 'soft-hearted person' or 'pushover'. Emphasizes being too nice or gullible, like a sap who is easily taken advantage of.
彼はお人好しだから、すぐに騙される。
He's such a sap; he gets fooled easily.