Translation guide
The English word 'trunks' can refer to men's swimwear, athletic shorts, or the storage compartment of a car. This guide covers how to express each meaning naturally in Japanese.
To refer to men's swimming trunks or swim shorts.
To refer to loose-fitting shorts worn for sports or exercise.
To refer to the storage compartment at the rear of a car.
The word トランクス almost always means men's boxer shorts in Japanese. Using it for swim trunks will likely cause confusion. Use 水着 or 海水パンツ instead.
海水パンツを買う。
Buy swim trunks.
I bought new swim trunks.
Specifically men's swim trunks. More casual and direct than 水着.
海水パンツを忘れた。
I forgot my swim trunks.
Loanword from English, but primarily used for men's underwear (boxer shorts), not swimwear. Can cause confusion.
Usually means boxer shorts, not swim trunks. Avoid for swimwear unless context is very clear.
トランクスをはく。
I wear boxer shorts.
Short for 短いパンツ, meaning short pants. Common casual term for athletic or casual shorts.
ジムに短パンで行く。
I go to the gym in trunks.
Half pants, referring to shorts that go to the knee. Often used for sports or casual wear.
バスケの練習にハーフパンツを履く。
I wear trunks for basketball practice.
Literally 'sports pants', a more descriptive term for athletic shorts.
スポーツ用パンツが必要だ。
I need athletic trunks.
Standard loanword for a car trunk. Widely understood.
トランクに荷物を入れる。
I put luggage in the trunk.
Formal/technical term for cargo area, used in car specs or manuals.
この車の荷室は広い。
This car's trunk is spacious.
Rear trunk, used to distinguish from a front trunk (frunk) in some vehicles.
後部トランクを開ける。
Open the rear trunk.