Translation guide
The number zero, nothing, or the starting point. In Japanese, the concept is expressed with different words depending on context: the numeral, the shape, the idea of nothingness, or idiomatic uses.
Referring to the numeral or digit zero, such as in math, phone numbers, or counting.
The most common word for zero, used in everyday contexts like phone numbers, temperatures, scores, and counting. A loanword from English.
The temperature is zero degrees.
スコアは2対ゼロだった。
The score was 2 to 0.
Formal or technical term for zero, often used in mathematics, official documents, or when reading numbers digit by digit. Can sound stiff in casual speech.
零時ちょうどに集合してください。
Please gather at exactly zero hundred hours (midnight).
計算結果は零です。
The calculation result is zero.
The symbol 〇 is read as まる (circle) when reading numbers digit by digit, like room numbers or years. Not used in mathematical expressions.
部屋番号は一〇三です。
The room number is 103.
Expressing the absence of quantity, score, or value; zero as nothing.
Used metaphorically to mean 'nothing' or 'no amount', as in 'zero chance' or 'zero tolerance'.
成功の可能性はゼロに近い。
The chance of success is close to zero.
ミスはゼロにしなければならない。
We must reduce mistakes to zero.
Philosophical or abstract 'nothingness', 'nil', or 'void'. Used in contexts like 'zero gravity' or 'nothingness'.
無重力状態では水は球になる。
In zero gravity, water forms a sphere.
Emphatic 'none at all', 'utterly lacking'. Stronger than ゼロ.
Referring to zero as a starting point, origin, or reset state.
'From zero', meaning starting from scratch or from nothing.
ゼロからやり直そう。
Let's start over from zero.
彼はゼロから会社を築いた。
He built the company from zero.
Idiom meaning 'back to square one' or 'back to zero', often used when progress is lost.
計画が振り出しに戻った。
The plan went back to zero.
Saying a team or player has zero points, especially in tennis or baseball.
Used only in tennis scoring for zero. From English 'love'.
スコアはフィフティーン・ラブです。
The score is fifteen-love.
General term for zero in most sports scores.
そのチームはゼロ点に抑えられた。
The team was held to zero points.
ゼロ is the default for everyday use. 零 is formal and used in mathematics or official contexts. 〇 (まる) is only for reading digits aloud in strings like phone numbers or room numbers.
電話番号は〇九〇-一二三四-五六七八です。
The phone number is 090-1234-5678.
Using れい for zero in everyday conversation can sound overly formal or stiff. Stick to ゼロ unless you're in a math class or reading official numbers.
気温がゼロまで下がった。
The temperature dropped to zero.
それにはゼロの興味もない。
I have zero interest in that.
There is zero evidence.