Translation guide
How to express the act of recording information in written form, from casual notes to formal documentation.
The basic act of putting words or information onto paper or a digital medium.
The most common and natural verb for 'writing down' something to remember or record it.
彼の電話番号を書き留めた。
I wrote down his phone number.
大事なポイントを書き留めてください。
Please write down the important points.
Very common casual verb meaning 'to take a note/memo'. Often used for quick, informal notes.
会議の内容をメモした。
I took notes on the meeting.
ちょっとメモして。
Jot it down real quick.
The general verb 'to write'. Can mean 'write down' when context makes it clear, but less specific than 書き留める.
ここに名前を書いてください。
Please write your name down here.
A more formal or literary verb for 'writing down', often used in written language or historical contexts.
その出来事は日記に記されている。
The event is recorded in a diary.
Specifically capturing spoken information in real time.
The standard phrase for 'taking notes' in an academic or business setting.
授業中にノートを取る。
I take notes during class.
彼は講義を聞きながらノートを取った。
He took notes while listening to the lecture.
Similar to ノートを取る but implies shorter, more informal notes. Often used in business contexts.
打ち合わせでメモを取る。
I take notes during meetings.
Writing something down for official records or permanent documentation.
Means 'to record' in an official or systematic way. Used for data, events, minutes, etc.
実験結果を記録する。
Record the experiment results.
議事録を記録する。
Record the minutes of the meeting.
Formal term for 'entering/writing down' in a document, form, or ledger.
必要事項を記載してください。
Please fill in the required information.
Writing something briefly and hastily.
Means 'to scribble' or 'jot down quickly'. Implies messy or hurried writing.
メモを走り書きした。
I scribbled a note.
Literally 'write quickly'. A casual way to say 'jot down'.
アイデアをさっと書いた。
I jotted down the idea.
書き留める is more general and can be used for any kind of writing down, while メモする specifically implies making a memo or note, often for personal reference. メモする is slightly more casual and common in spoken Japanese.
アドレスを書き留める
write down an address
電話の内容をメモする
take a memo of the phone call
While 書く can mean 'write down', it is ambiguous. Use 書き留める or メモする when you specifically mean recording information, not just the act of writing characters.