Translation guide
The English verb 'satisfy' covers several related ideas: meeting requirements, fulfilling desires, and convincing someone. Japanese uses different expressions depending on the nuance.
To fulfill a formal condition, requirement, or standard.
The most common and versatile verb for satisfying conditions, requirements, or needs. Used in both formal and everyday contexts.
この条件を満たしていますか？
Does this satisfy the conditions?
彼は入学基準を満たした。
He satisfied the admission requirements.
A formal term often used in legal, business, or technical contexts to mean satisfying conditions or requirements.
契約の要件を充足する必要がある。
It is necessary to satisfy the contract requirements.
To give someone what they want or need, making them content.
The causative form of 満足 (satisfaction). It means to make someone satisfied or content. Commonly used for desires, customers, or personal needs.
この結果は彼を満足させなかった。
This result did not satisfy him.
顧客を満足させるサービスを提供します。
We provide services that satisfy customers.
Also used for satisfying emotional or physical needs, such as hunger or curiosity. Often used with words like 食欲 (appetite) or 好奇心 (curiosity).
Intransitive: to be satisfied. Use this when the subject is the person who feels satisfied, not the thing causing satisfaction.
彼はその結果に満足した。
He was satisfied with the result.
To provide enough evidence or argument to make someone believe something.
To make someone understand and accept something; to convince. Often used when satisfying someone's doubts or questions.
彼の説明は私を納得させなかった。
His explanation did not satisfy me (did not convince me).
その証拠で陪審員を納得させた。
The evidence satisfied the jury.
Intransitive: to be convinced or satisfied with an explanation. Use when the subject accepts something as reasonable.
彼はその理由に納得した。
He was satisfied with the reason.
To pay off or fulfill a financial or legal obligation.
Specifically means to repay or satisfy a debt. Used in financial contexts.
彼は借金を全額返済した。
He satisfied the debt in full.
To fulfill or carry out an obligation, duty, or contract. Formal.
契約を履行する義務がある。
There is an obligation to satisfy the contract.
満たす is used for satisfying conditions, needs, or appetites directly. 満足させる is causative and means to make someone feel satisfied. Use 満たす for things like requirements (条件を満たす) and 満足させる for people (顧客を満足させる).
満足する is intransitive (to be satisfied). To say 'X satisfies Y', use 満足させる (causative) or 満たす. Saying XがYを満足する is incorrect.
この結果は彼を満足させた。
This result satisfied him.
He satisfied his appetite.
その本は私の好奇心を満たした。
That book satisfied my curiosity.