Translation guide
The English word "story" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. The most common meanings are a narrative or tale, a news article, and a floor of a building. Other uses include a lie or excuse, a plot or storyline, and a rumor or hearsay. Each meaning has its own natural Japanese expressions.
A spoken or written account of events, real or fictional.
The most common and versatile word for a story, tale, or account. Can be used for both casual and formal contexts.
面白い話を聞かせてください。
Please tell me an interesting story.
それは長い話です。
That's a long story.
A more literary or formal term for a story, often a longer narrative like a novel, epic, or legend. Implies a crafted tale.
Loanword from English, often used for the plot or storyline of a movie, book, or game. Common in media contexts.
A piece of news or a report in a newspaper, on TV, etc.
Standard term for a news article or report in a newspaper, magazine, or website.
A level or floor in a building.
Counter for floors. Replace N with the number. Note irregular readings for some numbers (e.g., 1階 = いっかい, 3階 = さんがい).
私の部屋は3階です。
My room is on the third floor.
そのビルは10階建てです。
That building is ten stories tall.
A false statement or fabricated account, often used to deceive or as an excuse.
The most direct word for a lie or falsehood. Can also be used for a made-up story.
The main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence.
Refers to the plot or storyline of a narrative. Common in literary and film contexts.
An unverified account or piece of gossip circulating among people.
The standard word for rumor or gossip. Can be used for a story that is going around.
話 (はなし) is the most general and everyday word for a story or talk. 物語 (ものがたり) is more literary and implies a crafted narrative, like a novel or epic. ストーリー is a loanword often used for the plot or storyline in modern media, and can sound casual.
昨日、友達から面白い話を聞いた。
Yesterday I heard an interesting story from a friend.
源氏物語は日本の古典文学です。
The Tale of Genji is a classic of Japanese literature.
それは長い話です。
That's a long story.
新聞で面白い記事を読んだ。
I read an interesting story in the newspaper.
そのビルは20階建てです。
The building has twenty stories.
この物語は実話に基づいています。
This story is based on a true story.
この映画はストーリーが弱い。
This movie has a weak story.
Specifically a folktale, legend, or old story passed down through generations.
祖母から昔話を聞いた。
I heard old stories from my grandmother.
その事件についての記事を読んだ。
I read a story about the incident.
General term for news. Can refer to a news story or the news in general.
トップニュースは地震の話だった。
The top story was about the earthquake.
Formal term for news reporting or a news story, often used in journalistic contexts.
その報道は誤りだった。
That news story was incorrect.
The word for 'floor' or 'storey' when not specifying a number.
この建物は何階ですか？
How many stories does this building have?
それは嘘だよ。
That's a story (lie).
彼は嘘の話を作った。
He made up a story.
Literally 'made-up story', often used for a fabrication or tall tale.
それはただの作り話だ。
That's just a made-up story.
An excuse or justification, often a story to explain away a mistake.
彼は遅刻の言い訳をした。
He gave a story for being late.
この小説は筋が複雑だ。
This novel has a complicated story.
A summary or synopsis of the story, often used when asking for the gist.
映画のあらすじを教えて。
Tell me the story of the movie.
Loanword from English, used specifically for the plot of a story, often in writing or filmmaking contexts.
プロットを練る。
To develop the story (plot).
変な噂を聞いた。
I heard a strange story (rumor).
Specifically a piece of gossip or a rumor story.
それはただの噂話だ。
That's just a rumor story.
This game has a great story.
The English word 'story' for a floor of a building is never translated as ストーリー. Use 階 (かい) or the counter N階.
彼は5階に住んでいる。
He lives on the fifth story.
This game has a great story.
The English word 'story' for a floor of a building is never translated as ストーリー. Use 階 (かい) or the counter N階.
彼は5階に住んでいる。
He lives on the fifth story.