Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers

大きさゆえに量産に適していない

2011-12-27T02:52:00.000+09:00

Original Text / 原文
機器はその大きさゆえに量産に適していない

Main Definitions / 主要定義
機器【きき】machinery and tools
大きさ【おおきさ】large
ゆえに therefore, consequently
量産【りょうさん】mass production
適する【てきする】suitable, suited, appropriate, adequate

Translation(s) / 和英翻訳
...large ~ equipment that does not lend itself to mass production
...large ~ equipment that is not best suited to mass production
...large ~ equipment that is not suitable for mass production

Sources / 情報源

Example Quantum Dot (QD) Implementations (The Nanoelectronic Research Group @ www.engineering.purdue.edu)
Cleaning Waste Water (Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology @ www.techno-preneur.net)
Sample preparation for electron probe microanalysis - Pushing the limits (National Institute of Standards and Technology @ www.nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org)

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.Based on a work at englishengineer.blogspot.com.

脱落した酸化スケール

2011-12-26T02:10:00.003+09:00

Original Text / 原文
脱落した酸化スケール

Main Definitions / 主要定義
脱落【だつらく】 loss; dropping out; falling by the wayside
酸化【さんか】 oxidation

Original Translation / 原語の和英翻訳
×　scale oxide dropped from
◎　oxide scale is removed from the metal surface
◎　waste oxide scale is removed
◎　oxide-scale removal

Sources / 情報源

Laser-assisted chemical cleaning for oxide-scale removal from carbon steel surfaces

(J. Laser Appl. 16, 25 (2004); doi:10.2351/1.1642631 (6 pages))

Michael F. McGuire - 2008 - Architecture - 304 pages

(Stainless Steels for Design Engineers By Michael F. McGuire)

IPC Meets the Needs of Food And Beverage Industry

(Machinery Lubrication, Noria News Wires, Noria Corporation, February 25, 2009)

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.Based on a work at englishengineer.blogspot.com.

市場から高い評価

2011-12-21T04:44:00.001+09:00

市場から高い評価をいただいてきました
shijō kara takai hyōka o itadaite kimashita

Terminology:
市場【しじょう】market
高い【たかい】 high
評価【ひょうか】 assessment

Translations:
×　received high-reputation from the market
◎　continue to enjoy a favorable reputation in the marketplace

Sources:

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.Based on a work atenglishengineer.blogspot.com.

Silicone iPad Keyboard

2011-12-20T03:21:00.003+09:00

Rachel Metz, a technology writer for the Associated Press discusses a new type of keyboard made of silicon that can be used with iPad.I personally avoid using the iPad keyboard whenever I can due to the difficulty of touch-typing without the tactile feedback. Although I am comfortable with using the Apple wireless keyboard that connects via Bluetooth, being able to use a more portable type of keyboard could prove to be quite convenient when on the road or during a commute on the train.

Photos of the keyboard can be found here at Product Design & Development:

Read the whole article here at NPR:

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers is licensed underaCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.Based on a work atenglishengineer.blogspot.com.

トルクに及ぼす主な設計的要因として

2011-12-15T14:19:00.000+09:00

トルクに及ぼす主な設計的要因としては
toruku ni oyobosu omona sekkei-teki yōin to shite wa

Definitions:
トルク torque
及ぼす【およぼす】exert; cause
主な【おもな】main; principal; key
設計【せっけい】design
的【てき; まと】-like; typical
要因【よういん】main cause; primary factor
としては as (for); for

Translations:
▲ main design factors for the torque
◎ Primary design factors related to torque generation

Source(s):
www.vsm.skf.com

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

摩擦の大部分

2011-12-15T13:34:00.003+09:00

摩擦の大部分
masatsu no daibubun

Definitions:
摩擦【まさつ】 friction
大部分【だいぶぶん】 most part; greater part; majority

Translations:
×　the majority of friction
①　the most dominant source of valve train friction
②　the dominant source of frictional loss
③　dominant source of friction

Corresponding sources:
①　www.dtic.mil
②　IUTAM Symposium on Elastohydrodynamics and Micro-elastohydrodynamics
③　A Study on the Ball Screw Friction Torque - PDF

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

潤滑油攪拌抵抗

2011-12-15T12:02:00.001+09:00

潤滑油攪拌抵抗
junkatsuyu kakuhanteikō

Definitions:
潤滑油【じゅんかつゆ】 lubricating oil
攪拌抵抗【かくはんていこう】 resistance to churning

Translations:
×　lubricant agitation resistance
◎　churning losses associated with lubricant
◎　churning losses associated with oil lubricant
◎　churning losses associated with grease lubricant

References:
Bayside Motion Group (www.parkermotion.com - PDF)
The Journal of Gear Manufacturing (www.geartechnology.com - PDF)
SKF Catalog (www.skf.com - PDF)
STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition (www.stle.org - PDF)

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

スピン滑り摩擦

2011-12-13T15:45:00.000+09:00

スピンすべり摩擦・スピン滑り摩擦
[supin suberi masatsu]

Definitions:

スピン spin
滑り摩擦【すべりまさつ】 sliding friction
すべり摩擦【すべりまさつ】 sliding friction

×　spin sliding friction
×　spinning sliding friction
◎　spin-slip friction

References:
①　www.nskamericas.com
②　ip.com - patents
③　www.nskamericas.com
④　books.google.co.jp
⑤　Koyo Technical Journal

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

弾性ヒステリシス

2011-12-13T15:07:00.002+09:00

弾性ヒステリシス (小)
[dansei hisuterishisu (shō)]

Definitions:

弾性ヒステリシス【だんせいヒステリシス】 elastic hysteresis
小【しょう】 smallness

☆　Elastic hysteresis (small)

References:

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

大半を占める

2011-12-13T14:36:00.000+09:00

油潤滑では大半を占める
[abura junkatsu de wa taihan o shimeru]

Definitions:

油【あぶら】 oil
潤滑【じゅんかつ】 lubrication
大半【たいはん】 majority; mostly; generally
占める【しめる】 to comprise; to account for

×　occupies the majority in oil lubrication
◎　Constitutes the majority of friction under oil-lubricant conditions
◎　in oil lubricated conditions
◎　of lubricating conditions
☆　predominant under oil lubrication

References:

①　www.machinerylubrication.com
②　www.skf.com
③　trans.glova.jp/
④　www.csse.monash.edu.au

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

地球環境問題

2011-11-24T23:03:00.001+09:00

地球環境問題
> ちきゅうかんきょうもんだい
> global environment problems; global environmental issues

--
地球規模の環境問題につい地球規模
> ちきゅうきぼ
> global scale

環境問題
> かんきょうもんだい
> environment issues

地球環境問題
> きゅうかんきょうもんだい
> global environmental problems

1. global environmental issues
2. issues of the global environment
3. global environmental problems

1. thru 3.
> http://trans.glova.jp/index.php
> http://www.env.go.jp/earth/coop/coop/images/pdf/panf_pdf/all.pdf

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

最良の構築物

2011-11-24T22:53:00.001+09:00

Japanese:

最良の構築物

Yomigana:

[sairyō no kōchiku-butsu]

Original translation:

best combination

Suggested translation:

providing the best combination of ....

Reference material:

http://data.lullar.com/ファシリティマネジメント

Japanese-English Glossary for Engineers
is licensed under a
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Based on a work at
englishengineer.blogspot.com.

Planetary

2011-11-06T16:43:00.000+09:00

One translation of the Japanese term ミニアチュアプラネタリ用ケージ＆ローラ in English is "cages and rollers for miniature planetary gears," as opposed to "cage & rollers for miniature planetary."

I would strongly suggest adding at least the word "gear"!

References

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.1 Japan License.

SI Unit Symbols

2011-10-31T15:59:00.000+09:00

On page 7 of the Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI) it states the following:

Check List for Reviewing Manuscripts

(7) It is clear to which unit symbol a numerical value belongs and which mathematical operation applies to the value of a quantity because forms such as the following are used. (See Sec. 7.7.)

35 cm × 48 cm but not: 35 × 48 cm
1 MHz to 10 MHz or (1 to 10) MHz but not: 1 MHz – 10 MHz or 1 to 10 MHz
20 ºC to 30 ºC or (20 to 30) ºC but not: 20 ºC – 30 ºC or 20 to 30 ºC
123 g ± 2 g or (123 ± 2) g but not: 123 ± 2 g
70 % ± 5 % or (70 ± 5) % but not: 70 ± 5 %
240 × (1 ± 10 %) V but not: 240 V ± 10 % (one cannot add 240 V and 10 %)

References

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.1 Japan License.

Ultra High vs Ultrahigh vs Ultra-High

2011-03-25T11:58:00.000+09:00

In translating the term "長高負荷容量" [choukoufukayouryou/ちょうこうふかようりょう], my first impulse was to use "ultrahigh load-carrying capacity" or "ultrahigh load capacity." In determining the frequency that "load-carrying capacity" versus "load capacity" is used among other writers in my client's industry, I inadvertently noticed the use of "ultra high" or "ultra-high" as opposed to "ultrahigh." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language clearly indicates that "ultrahigh" is an adjective that means "Exceedingly high" as in, "an ultrahigh vacuum."

It is true that "ultra" itself can be used independently as an adjective to mean "extreme," but this nuance leans toward usage in compounds like "ultra-conservative" (extremely conservative values) or "ultra-atomic" (here, the closed compound would be difficult to read).

The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage dictates that compounds using "ultra" be closed unless the prefix precedes an "a" or an uppercase letter. The Chicago Manual of Style also supports the trend towards closed compounds precluding occasional exceptions.

My impression is that in the field of mechanical engineering, writers tend to be somewhat less progressive in adopting more modern writing styles or simply may not be aware of current trends, such as with the use of "ultra" in closed compounds. For the sake brevity and clarity, I have decided that I will use "ultrahigh" unless the client specifically requests that I revert to the less-progressive "ultra high" or "ultra-high."

Centering On

2011-02-23T15:59:00.002+09:00

中心とした → centering on

中心【ちゅうしん】center; middle; core; focus; emphasis
とした
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

Examples:

通商および軍事を巡っての中心とした話し合い

talks centering on trade and military matters
ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典第４版

ICANNを中心とした民間主導

led by private sector centering on ICANN
http://jprs.co.jp/topics/2009/090609.html

ＥＲＰ‐ＰＫＧを中心としたトータルシステムインテグレーション

Total system integration centering on ERP-PKG.
http://jglobal.jst.go.jp/public/20090422/200902183365295459

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Out-of-Roundness After Capping

2011-02-18T01:54:00.000+09:00

板後真円度

板後【ばんこう】
真円度【しんえんど】 deviation from roundness; deviation from circularity; circularity deviation; out of roundness

(out-of-) roundness after capping

試験後のボール真円度
Roundness of ball after test
http://www.ntn.co.jp/japan/products/tech/review/pdf/NTN_TR69_P117.pdf

真円度
Roundness
http://patent.astamuse.com/ja/granted/JP/No/4515405

Jim Breen's WWWJDIC

http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

Glossary: New Products

2011-02-17T13:55:00.001+09:00

商品紹介【しょうひんしょうかい】 product + introduction
New Products
Reference(s):

http://denko.panasonic.biz/ebox/HomeArchi/products/2010newpro_top.html

Also,

新商品【しんしょうひん】 New Products
新商品紹介【しんしょうひんしょうかい】New Products + introduction

http://www.inax.co.jp/products/2010new/

electric motor regrease program

2011-02-17T13:25:00.000+09:00

電気モーター再給脂の基礎
電気【でんき】 electricity
モーター motor
再【さい】 (pref) re-
給【きゅう】 feed
再給【さい・きゅう】relubricate; relubrication
脂【あぶら; し】fat; tallow; lard; grease
基礎【きそ】 foundation; basis; basic(s); fundamental(s)
--
the basics of an electric motor regrease program
--
1. Machinery Lubrication, Vol. 32 (TYUvol.32[1].pdf)
2. Machinery Lubrication September October 2010 (ML_Sept_Oct_2010b.pdf)
2. http://www.lubri-can.net/category/grease/greasing-procedure/

MHRA

2011-01-04T17:52:00.000+09:00

A visitor to this blog referenced The Modern Humanities Research Association (see Tables & Figures: To Capitalize or not to Capitalize dated February 24, 2008). Fortunately, the MHRA offers a PDF version of their style guide, which can be downloaded here:

http://www.mhra.org.uk/Publications/Books/StyleGuide/download.shtml

One can never have too many references!

Removal of Oxide Scale

2010-12-31T02:40:00.000+09:00

How would you translate "脱落した酸化スケール"?

Let's break it down:

脱落した酸化スケール
脱落【だつらく】 loss; dropping out; falling by the wayside
酸化【さんか】 oxidation

The original translation I saw was:

scale oxide dropped from the metal surface

The problem with this translation is the direct translation of 脱落 as "dropped." A better translation would be "oxide scale is removed from the metal surface" or "waste oxide scale is removed from the metal surface."

References:

SaaS

2010-12-14T01:15:00.001+09:00

Today's key term is: software-as-a-service (SaaS)

Note that this initialism is written with two lowercase a's, which makes this initialism somewhat visually unique.

翻訳

software-as-a-service (SaaS): サース

SaaS（サース、Software-as-a-Service）は、必要な機能を必要な分だけサービスとして利用できるようにしたソフトウェア（主にアプリケーションソフトウェア）もしくはその提供形態のこと。一般にはインターネット経由で必要な機能を利用する仕組みで、シングルシステム・マルチテナント方式になっているものを指す[1]。以下、特に断りのない限り、上記定義でのSaaSについて記述する。[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaaS]

Some Japanese sites tend to spell out SaaS as "Software as a Service."² Please note, however, that this is one noun, and as such, requires dashes. Therefore, "Software as a Service" should be written as "Software-as-a-Service."

Also, when using SaaS in your sentences, be sure to spell the word out first, then indicate the initialism in parenthesis.¹

例： With cloud computing, users can interact with software-as-a-service (SaaS) via their Web browser on a laptop, desktop, or iPhone without worrying about compatibly with the hardware operating system.

References:

1. The Chicago Manual of Style

Additional references:

2. 用語解説辞典/NTTPC ソリューション・ネットワーク事業(This site is a good example of how to NOT spell SaaS.
3. Computer Desktop Encylopedia (Computer Desktop Encyclopedia)
4. 日経パソコン用語辞典 2010年版
5. The Chicago Manual of Style

Micro-EHL

2010-06-08T03:22:00.000+09:00

Original Text:

micro Elastohydroynamic Lubrication (EHL)

Suggested Text:

micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (micro-EHL)

Notes:

Spell out abbreviations at first occurrence as a courtesy to readers who might not easily recognize them. The abbreviation usually follows immediately in parentheses.
Hyphenate "micro-elastohydrodynamic" and "micro-EHL"

References:
1. Wear, Volume 190, Issue 2, December 1995, Pages 125-138 (ScienceDirect Link)
2. Engineering Tribology By Gwidon W. Stachowiak, Andrew W. Batchelor (Link Google Books)

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
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ＡＮＭインターナショナル日本代理店
２３４－００５３神奈川県横浜市港南区日野中央２－６－３
パークサイド日野１０２号
http://www.anminternational.com/ | honyaku@anmiweb.com
Tel. 045-841-4218 | Fax 045-841-4288

Half-Toroidal CVT

2010-06-08T02:59:00.000+09:00

Original Text:

a Half-Toroidal CVT (continuous variable transmission)

Suggested Text:

a half-toroidal continuously variable transmission (CVT)

Notes:

Spell out abbreviations at first occurrence as a courtesy to readers who might not easily recognize them. The abbreviation usually follows immediately in parentheses.

References:
1. The Chicago Manual of Style
2. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Encyclopedia of Shinto

2010-06-08T02:47:00.000+09:00

Everything you need to know about Shinto architecture, customs, beliefs, etc.:

http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/

Miss Pronouncer: Hear how to pronounce; The Wisconsin pronunciation guide for cities, counties, Indians & lawmakers

2010-06-08T02:44:00.000+09:00

"Online resource for hearing audio pronunciations of cities, parks, lawmakers, Indian tribes, towns, counties, villages, and forests specific to Wisconsin" in the States:

http://misspronouncer.com/

Centrifugal Deoiling

2010-04-12T19:59:00.001+09:00

"Centrifugal deoiling" seems to be a term more commonly associated with food processing. I don't think it is the right term to use when talking about the cleaning process of newly manufactured hardware components.

Vocabulary:

組立【くみたて】 assembly
工程【こうてい】 manufacturing process
遠心脱【えんしんだっ】 centrifugal de-[something]
油【あぶら】 oil
脱脂【だっし】 removal of fat
乾燥【かんそう】 dry

Original Translation:

degreased and dried by centrifugal deoiling in assembly process

Suggested Translation(s):

Remove grease and dry bearings with an oil separator during the manufacturing and assembly process.
Remove grease and dry bearings with a centrifugal dryer during the manufacturing and assembly process.

Constitution and Specifications

2010-04-05T18:21:00.000+09:00

I recently came across the heading 「構成および仕様」, which was translated as "Constitution and Specifications." Unfortunately, the text following this heading failed to list the so-called "constitution" of the product, nor did it provide any "specifications." The original title should have been Primary Feature (大特徴) or something like that since the text contained only the primary feature of the product.

Here are some points to remember:

Original Text:

構成および仕様

Definitions:

構成【こうせい】configuration
および and; as well as
仕様【しよう】technical specifications

Original Translation:

Constitution and specifications

Proposed Translations:

Specifications
Configuration and Specifications
Performance [depending on context]

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This work is licensed under a
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Make Money--Hire a Copyeditor

2010-04-05T18:13:00.000+09:00

I came across this posting in a forum I belong to. I couldn't agree more:

"It is hard to believe some companies are the world's leader in their field when they fail to spend 10,000 to 20,000 yen for a copyeditor. One such company (name withheld to prevent further damage to their reputation), makes more than 26 billion yen in net sales. Yet, they failed to invest in what I think would have only cost 10 to 20 thousand yen for some copyediting."

Set Screw vs. Setscrew

2010-03-31T16:50:00.007+09:00

How do you say 「Ｗポイント止めねじ」in English? Why not "set screw (W shape screw head)"?

Here are some corrections and suggestions:

1. "set screw" is one word--not two. See the following two references:

2. I think "W shape screw head" might be Japanese-English (和製英語). The term "W shape" should likely be "cup-point," not "W shape."

Also, "screw head" is clearly wrong because the cup-point is NOT at the top (head) of the setscrew. The head of a setscrew will either be a an Allen-type head (for tightening with an Allen wrench) or a slotted-type head (for tightening with a screwdriver).

Finally, here is a list of different types of setscrews according to MachineDesign.com:

1. cup-point setscrews
2. cone-point setscrews
3. oval-point setscrews
4. flat-point setscrews

The RcTek site goes even further and offers wonderful illustrations of the different types of setscrew (grub screw) tips:

1. flat-point tip
2. domed-point tip
3. cone-point tip
4. cup-point tip
5. knurled cup-point tip
6. dog-point tip

Specific references/links:

1. Machine Design - Setscrews
2. RC Tek - Fixings & Fasteners - Grub Screws

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.1 Japan License.

ＡＮＭインターナショナル日本代理店
〒２３４－００５３神奈川県横浜市港南区日野中央２－６－３パークサイド日野１０２号
http://www.anminternational.com/ | honyaku@anmiweb.com
Tel. 045-841-4218 | Fax 045-841-4288

Apple and American Red Cross Accepting Haiti Relief Donations thru iTunes

2010-01-19T00:59:00.002+09:00

Sadly, the news coverage of the Haiti earthquake has been miniscule in Japan. Conversely, coverage of the disaster has been quite extensive on a daily basis in the States. I wonder why the disparity?

For those of us who live in Japan, we can now send donations via the iTunes store in amounts of Y500, Y1,000, Y2,500, Y5,000, Y10,000, and Y20,000.

The donation will be charged to the credit card that you have registered with your iTunes Store account. Your donation will be sent to the American Red Cross. Rest assured that the American Red Cross is a reputable organization that you can trust. If you haven't already, I encourage all my friends, students, and colleagues in Japan to donate.

More information in Japanese is available at these links:

iTunes Storeでハイチ地震救援募金受付：
https://buy.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/buyCharityGiftWizard

広田稔／ASCII.jp編集部：
http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/490/490581/

ハイチ大地震に便乗したオンライン詐欺、シマンテックが注意喚起
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100115_342594.html

ヤフーやニフティなど、ハイチ地震の被災者への募金を受け付け
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100115_342613.html

ハイチ地震救援金
http://volunteer.yahoo.co.jp/donation/detail/1301013/index.html

ハイチ大地震被害の救援金を受付けます
http://www.jrc.or.jp/contribution/l3/Vcms3_00001446.html

Copystand

2009-03-27T11:40:00.003+09:00

Today's key word is 複写台【ふくしゃだい】, or copystand. Let's break the word down:

- 複写 means to copy or duplicate.
- 台 means a stand, rack, table, bench, etc.

The mistranslation I came across today was, "copying table." Not being familiar with copystands in general, I originally thought the author was talking about a copy machine or copier. Since the term was being used in the context of cameras and lenses, I did a quick search at the Nikon website and found "copystand."

Further research revealed some authors spelling the term as two words, "copy stand," and some as one word, "copystand." Since the document was related to the use of a copystand in conducting analysis of machine components, I deferred to the spelling used on page 421 of an American Society for Metals (ASM) International publication, "ASM Handbook Volume 11 Failure analysis and prevention‎."

Thus, I suggest authors use "copystand" when translating the word 複写代.

Some references:

1. http://books.google.com/books
2. http://www.nikon.com.au/products.php
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copy_stand
4. http://www.marietta.edu/~mcshaffd/macro/copy.html

Input vs Release

2008-10-07T02:13:00.003+09:00

The original Japanese text was:

新商品の市場投入

Examples:

デザイン力、品質、納期などの非価格競争手段への取り組みを強化積極的な新商品の市場投入と主要チャネルの出店増により、業績は横ばいで推移利潤の追求のみならず、企業イメージを高める商品開発を推進
Yahoo! JAPANでは今後も、オンライン広告市場の健全な発展と広告効果の最大化を目指し、新商品の市場投入を行なっていきます。
大同鋼板（本社総尼崎市、服部正幸）は需要開拓の一環として、高機能・複合機能鋼板の開発を推進しており、近日中に「遮熱鋼板」「防菌・防カビ・防臭鋼板」「非汚染鋼板」など新商品の市場投入を予定。

The first translation of today's phrase was:

Inputting market of new products

Now, let's break it down:

新商品の市場投入

新【しん】 new
商品【しょうひん】 products
市場【いちば; しじょう】 market
投入【とうにゅう】 release of (a product)

Notes:

The original translation was "inputting" for 投入. In this case, you cannot "input" a product. The term "input," among others, is more often used to mean "入力" as in:

the inputting of digital information デジタル情報の入力

So, instead of "input," I would suggest "release of" + "new products" instead. Therefore, "inputting market" changes to "release of new products to".

The original translation of 市場 as "market" is perfectly OK.

So, 新商品の市場投入, literally translated as "new products' market input/release", was translated as "inputting market of new products."

My suggested rewrite was "Release new products to market" or "Release new products to the market."

Here are some examples:

With the tremendous resources Honeywell has to offer, Hand Held Products will be able to release new products to market at a much faster rate," said Teri Ellis, System ID product manager.
Probably not if they can get their work done, but it does raise and interesting question about the preparedness of software companies to release new products to market.

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This work is licensed under a
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Guide vs Manual

2008-04-25T12:26:00.001+09:00

The word manual can be defined as follows:

マニュアル, 取扱説明書, 操作説明書, 手引き, 手引き書, 手順書, 解説書, 指導書, 教則本, 案内書, 便覧, 要覧, 規程[基準, 指針](書), □要領

The word guide can be defined as follows:

旅行[観光]案内書, 手引き書, 便覧, ハンドブック, マニュアル, 取扱説明書

As you can see, a manual and a guide may seem to be the same thing at times--especially in Japanese.

Now, lets check the English definition for guide:

Something, such as a pamphlet, that offers basic information or instruction.

And, the English definition for manual:

A small reference book, especially one giving instructions.

Basically, a guide is simpler than a manual and may cover information in a very basic way. Conversely, a manual can be quite detailed and may even be a very thick book that would take days if not weeks to finish reading (but not always).

Recently, a document I checked recently used the word マニュアル in the Japanese original. However, the so-called manual was only two or three pages long. This is not what I would call a manual! I edited the translation and changed the word manual to guide.

A good example for understanding the difference would be to compare a a driver's guide with an owner's manual.

A driver's guide might tell us how to enjoy the many functions of a new car. If I want to go on a cross-country drive, I will refer to my driver's guide. Such a guide might also have some maps and offer some advice on the best route to take. Some guides are published in a pamphlet or brochure format.

An owner's manual might tell us how things work and how they're intended to be used. If I want to change a tire, change the oil, or replace a fuse, I will refer to the owner's manual. Such a manual might likely be thick, have CAD drawings, and provide technical information in great detail, and often published in a book format.

Manuals: http://www.repairmanual.com/automobiles/

Guides: http://tinyurl.com/3g6b6e

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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one-third or 1/3?

2008-03-28T01:31:00.003+09:00

I have come across several Japanese parts makers using "1/3" in their catalogs or press releases. Typical in-house translators or engineers at such companies typically render "1/3" or any other fraction exactly as it is in the original Japanese document when preparing the English version.

True, mathematical symbols are basically universal around the world. However, when publishing a document for public use in the English language, I typically transpose simple mathematical symbols like "1/3" into "one-third."

Here is one example from The Nikkei Business Daily Wednesday edition, dated March 27, 2008 (bold emphasis added by me):

The strong growth in online gaming is not limited to Asia, however. U.S research firm Strategy Analytics forecasts the global online gaming market will expand by 25% annually and be worth 11 billion dollars in 2011, accounting for one-third of the total game software market.

Here is another example from an article by Reliable Plant:

When asked whether they have made – or are planning to make – changes to their total rewards programs with generational preferences in mind, nearly one-third of respondents (32 percent) answered in the affirmative.

And, one last example from an article by Machinery Lubrication:

In a heavy-duty diesel engine, only one-third of the total energy produced works to propel the vehicle forward. An additional one-third is removed as heat energy by the exhaust system. The remaining one-third of heat energy produced is taken away by the coolant.

So, why do good writers choose to go through the trouble of spelling "one-third" when it would be much easier to simply write "1/3"?

I believe that reading one-third spelled out is easier on the eyes and less distracting than 1/3. Regardless of what I believe, the Chicago Manual of Style clearly states the following:

9.15 Simple fractions
Simple fractions are spelled out. When, as in the first four examples below, a fraction is considered a single quantity, it is hyphenated. When, less commonly, individual parts of a quantity are in question, as in the last example, the fraction is spelled open. See also 7.90, section 1, under fractions, simple.

Examples:

She has read three-quarters of the book.
Four-fifths of the students are boycotting the class.
I do not want all of your material; two-thirds is quite enough.
A two-thirds majority is required.

Of course, when publishing a technical paper, then the numerical form of a fraction might be the preferred style in accordance with International System of Units (SI).

Can you think of any other situation where a simple fraction might be written as 1/3 instead of one-third? In your English translations, do you follow the CMoS rule or do you use another reference that has a different view? Let me know what you think. Feel free to post your own questions as well!

Additional References:

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Commercialization

2008-03-19T01:01:00.003+09:00

The term 「品化商」 can be translated as "commercialization." Let's break the term down:

商品【しょうひん】commodity; article of commerce; goods; stock; merchandise (Link)
化【か】 (suff) -ization; -ification (Link)

Eijiro defines 商品化 as follows:

commercial realization // commercialization // commercialization of product // commodification // commoditizing // developing products // product commercialization

Furthermore, Glova translates the phrase as follows, which includes U.S. English and British spelling:

commercializing | commercial service | commercialization | commercialisation | Commodities | commercialize | commercialization of product | commodification | commoditizing | developing products | product commercialization

Now, let's take a look at the word "commercialization" from a different point of view. According to ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典第４版, this word can be translated as:

商業化, 商業的に応用[利用]すること, 営利化, 製品化, 商品化, 市販品化, 市販化, 市場化, 市場投入化, 工業化, 実用化, 事業化

The dilemma we face is the typical translation of 品化商 as commercialization. There is nothing wrong the such a translation, but I feel that the word commercialization is a bit vague. If you look at the various translations above, you can see that the word commercialization is not exactly very clear--in fact, in typical Japanese fashion, it is quite vague!

Here are some examples that I have used in the past to rewrite the translation of 製品化 as commercialization:

product ABC is commercialized -> product ABC is available from production
product ABC is commercialized -> product ABC is now available from stock
XYZ Ltd. commercialized the series of ABC -> XYZ Ltd. has developed and begun marketing product ABC
XYZ Ltd. has developed and commercialized the world's the world's fastest digital ABC -> XYZ Ltd. has developed and released to the market the world's fastest digital ABC.

Here are some examples of real-world usage:

Redrock Micro now available from production (Link)
Drip-proof motors through 1,000 HP and totally enclosed motors through 350 HP are available from stock. (Link)
2300/4000 volt motors through 1,000 HP are available from production. (Link)
Replacement inserts are available from stock. (Link)
They are available as cylindrical bearings, collar bearings and rod stock with internal diameters of 2 mm to 120 mm. Approximately 1500 sizes (both imperial and metric) are available from stock. (Link)
NSK Ltd. has developed and begun marketing bearings for steelmaking machinery and home appliances. (Link)
Suntory has begun marketing its popular "Reserved Fruit Cocktail" (Link)
Biomet's comprehensive shoulder system was released to the market in 2007 (Link)
XVision was released to the market in December 2001 (Link)

Do you have any other phrases that you would like to use instead of commercialization? Click on the Comments link below to leave us with your thoughts!

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This work is licensed under a
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Improved Oil Flow

2008-03-18T01:14:00.004+09:00

Today's translation deals with the phrase: スムーズな油流

スムーズ　smooth
油【あぶら】 oil
流【りゅう】 style of; method of; manner of

The translator originally translated the phrase as: improve oil flow. My rewrite was: improved oil flow.

In this usage, "スムーズな" is an adjective, so obviously, the English translation should also be an adjective. Therefore, "improve" should be translated as "improved."

Here are some examples of "improved oil flow" being used by native English writers:

Improved Oil Flow Monitoring (Machinery Lubrication)
New Showa fork features a larger cartridge rod and new cartridge oil piston for improved oil flow and less friction, plus stiffer springs for improved mid-stroke action. (Honda Australia)
Improved oil flow and cooling performance (Mobile Canada)
Testing also provides data necessary for enhancements to bearing design, housing and shaft design for improved rigidity, and improved oil flow to the bearings. (SAE International / Timken)

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Tables & Figures: To Capitalize or not to Capitalize

2008-02-25T01:04:00.003+09:00

In most of the Japanese-to-English translations that I have edited over the past 12+ years, the translators or authors have capitalized the words table or figure in the running text (see figure 1 above).

To date, I have yet to find any solid reference that clearly states a writer should capitalize the words table or figure in the running text of a document when it refers to a figure or table that is provided in the document.

Conversely, my favorite reference, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), clearly states in section 8.190 Numbered chapters, parts, and so on, that the words figure and table are not capitalized. This makes perfect sense since the words figure and table in and of themselves are not proper nouns. Therefore, there is no logical reason whatsoever for capitalizing them. By the same token you wouldn't capitalize the words section, paragraph, page, appendix, chapter, and so on in the running text. So why would you do that for figure and table. Below is a copy of section 8.190 from the CMOS:

The words chapter, part, appendix, table, figure, and the like are lowercased and spelled out in text (though sometimes abbreviated in parenthetical references). Numbers are given in arabic numerals, regardless of how they appear in the original. If letters are used, they may be upper- or lowercase and are sometimes put in parentheses. See also 9.30–31.
This matter is discussed in chapters 4 and 5.
The Latin text appears in appendix B.
The range is presented numerically in table 4.2 and diagrammed in figure 4.1.
These connections are illustrated in table A3.
Turn to section 5(a) for further examples.

I can, however, understand the desires of Japanese authors and translators to capitalize the words listed above. The figures themselves are titled, as shown in the image at the top of this blog entry, with the words figure or fig. being capitalized as Figure or Fig. So, it might be understandable that the author or translator would want to capitalize those same words in the running text.

However, what needs to be understood is that the words figure or fig. are only capitalized under a given figure because either one is the first word of the line where the actual title is given. They are not capitalized because they are proper nouns--they are only capitalized because they are the first words. The the same goes for any English phrase or sentence: Capitalize the first letter of the first word of a sentence or phrase.

Therefore, it is only logical that the capitalized words at the beginning of a line would thus use lowercase if they are not the first words of a line, such as when being used in running text.

Here are some more examples from The Chicago Manual of Style

13.10 Form

Every table should be given a number (arabic numerals are used) and should be cited in the text by the number, either directly or parenthetically. For table titles, see 13.14–18.
The wide-ranging nature of the committee’s discussions can be judged from the topics listed in table 14.
Topics covered by the worker-management committee in three years of deliberations fell into five general categories (table 14).

Ultimately, engineers, doctors, and other professionals who submit their work for publication in a journal, catalog, or any other publication, will have to abide by the style manuals of the applicable organization or submission guides of the journal. If an organization explicitly states that authors need to capitalize the words figure or table in the running text, then so be it.

In my experience, few Japanese companies, academic organizations, or professional publications have style manuals that are of any use when dealing with documents translated into English. If an author or translator is not restricted by pressures to conform to the status quo, then I strongly urge him or her to follow the guidelines so clearly provided to us by the CMOS.

Do you know of any other references that we can share with readers regarding the capitalization of certain words in the running text? Have you ever had to capitalize the words figure or table in the running text even though you knew it was wrong because the boss demanded that you do so? Share your thoughts and tribulations by clicking on the comment link below.

Disclaimer

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Conventional Ball Recirculation Circuit

2007-12-08T03:49:00.000+09:00

Today's blog entry relates to ball screws. My references include the following:

1. Jim Breen's WWWJDIC Server
2. AHR International
3. NSK Corporation
4. Barnes Industries, Inc.
5. Europe NSK
6. Australia NSK
7. Thomas Net Industrial News Room
8. CD-ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典
9. CD-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

Here is the original Japanese:

従来チューブ循環方式

Here is the original translation:

conventional tube type

Let's break it down:

従来 conventional
チューブ tube
循環 recirculation
方式 method

My suggestion for this translation would be:

conventional ball recirculation circuit
external ball return system

Notes:

"method" is defined as a means or manner of procedure, especially a regular and systematic way of accomplishing something: a simple method for making a pie crust; mediation as a method of solving disputes. Thus, "method" is not an appropriate when talking about the way ball bearings recirculate inside the circuit or system of a ball screw.
"system" is used by some ball screw manufacturers, but I think this word is a little vague.
"type" is also a little bit vague, but might be OK for conversation. Among engineers, however, it would be better to use an exact phrase that is clear and concise.
"tube" sounds a bit too amateurish for me. Also, "tube" does not tell us exactly what function it performs.
"recirculation circuit" clearly tells us what function is performed and how. Furthermore, "recirculation" is consistently used by bearing engineers across several fields at various companies across the globe.

Any comments or questions? Click on the "comments" link to contact me.

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.1 Japan License

Corporate Citizen

2007-10-24T01:18:00.000+09:00

Here is the latest example of directly translated English (和英直訳)：

(the company) as a member of the society [Japanese English]

I would suggest the following phrases:

corporate citizen
corporate citizenship
(the company is) aware of its role in society

Here are some real-world examples:

Such investing focuses generally on companies that are environmentally friendly or good corporate citizens. (The Nikkei Financial Daily Monday edition; Monday, January 22, 2007; Balance Of SRI Funds At Leading Trust Banks Doubled In '06)

Atsuko Yamakawa will lead Nomura's efforts to promote its corporate citizenship as the head of a designated office to be formed next month at the group's headquarters. (The Nikkei Financial Daily Friday edition; Friday, June 16, 2006; Nomura Securities Appoints Its 1st Female Department Head)

Solar cells in general are expected to play an important role in society's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, and Japan is technologically adept in this field. (Nikkei Weekly, July 30, 2007 Issue; Quantum dots fuel solar cells)

Glossary:

corporate citizen: 企業市民
good corporate citizen: よい企業市民／良き法人市民:
corporate citizenship: コーポレート・シティズンシップ、社会の一員としての企業の責任・義務
Council for Better Corporate Citizenship: 海外事業活動関連協議会 (Link)
global corporate citizenship: 世界企業市民 (Link)
ボストン・カレッジ企業市民センター（CCC: Center for Corporate Citizenship）: 米国を拠点とするシンクタンク。多国籍企業の社会貢献活動の定義付け・計画・実行を支援する。活動目的は、企業活動が及ぼす社会、経済、人的資源における影響力を企業利益に結びつけること同時に、持続的な世界の実現にも寄与すること。

References:

1. Nikkei Net Interactive
2. The Hitachi Foundation
3. Nestle Group
4. 英辞郎第三版

Received High-Reputation

2007-10-20T04:49:00.000+09:00

Today's Phrase:

市場から高い評価をいただいてきました

Let's break it down:

市場【しじょう】　market
高い【たかい】 high
評価【ひょうか】 assessment
いただいてきま receive

One mistranslation that I have seen for the above phrase is "received high-reputation from the market." The major problem with this translation is "received."

The Japanese maker of gadget A did not actually "receive" a reputation from the marketplace. Use "receive" for something tangible. For example:

I received 100 dollars as a birthday present from my uncle.
おじさんから誕生日プレゼントとして１００ドルをもらいました。

I would suggest that the translator/author use a different verb for "received." Here are a few suggestions:

(Company A) continues to enjoy a favorable reputation in the marketplace.
Our company enjoys a favorable reputation in the marketplace.
Our xyz gadget has a good reputation in the marketplace.

More examples of using 市場から～評価を～:

a good reputation in the marketplace as being honest and honorable
a solid reputation in the marketplace
an unsurpassed reputation in the marketplace
have a poor reputation in the marketplace
managing our reputation in the marketplace will optimize our ability to achieve
an outstanding reputation in the marketplace leads to long-term success
has an excellent reputation in the marketplace
maintaining a reputation in the marketplace
branding can increase profitability and improve ～ products’ reputation in the marketplace
continues to grow and its reputation in the marketplace
a sound reputation in the marketplace
can better leverage reputation in the marketplace
fine reputation in the marketplace
poor safety compliance could cause loss of reputation in the marketplace

References:

1. 大辞林第三版
2. CD-ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典
3. CD-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
4. 英辞郎第三版

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Kunrei-shiki Rōmaji vs Modified Hepburn

2007-09-23T02:57:00.000+09:00

"Hello. My name is Katuo Zyuniti. I love the Tokio Giants. I work for the Mitutoyo company in Sinzuku. My wife often goes grocery shopping at the Meidiya grocery store. Last weekend, my family went for a drive around Mt. Huzi in Sizuoka in my brand new Mitubisi. Next week, we will go to Titibu to buy a Keepon robot made my Hideki Kozima."
Listen to the Kunrei-shiki Romaji version.

Kunrei-shiki romanization (Monbusho system) is the official romanization system of the Japanese government and has been approved by ISO. Unfortunately, Kunrei-shiki is confusing and of little use to people who are not familiar with Japanese phonology.

Although the Japanese education ministry and some in Japanese academia insist on using Kunrei-shiki even in the 21st century, effective and professional writers almost never use it. In fact, the standard of romanization used by the world's leading publications, most international Japanese corporations, most Japanese news publications, and even most ministries of the Japanese government is a modified version of the Hepburn style of romanization.

Why not used the official version of romanization? Because Kunrei-shiki is useless to non-Japanese who don't have a knowledge of Japanese phonology. In fact, most Japanese would have difficulty reading and understanding the paragraph at the top of this page because it is written in Kunrei-shiki romaji. Kunrei-shiki is perfect for some Japanese or non-Japanese who have a good understanding of Japanese phonology. Kunrei-shiki romaji was developed so that non-Japanese can read the names of persons, places, and things in Japan. Ironically, it doesn't work very well because the authors chose to use English letter combinations that have almost no equivalent or corresponding pronunciation in the English language. Basically, Kunrei-shiki causes miscommunication, confusion, and prohibits the smooth flow of communication. For example, the "tu" in "Katuo" reads as "kah-two-oh." Shinjuku becomes Sinzuku (seen-zoo-koo); Kojima become Kozima (koh-zee-ma); Mitsubishi becomes Mitubisi (mee-two-bee-see); and so on.

Thus said, romaji should be such that in promotes clear, concise, and quick communication regardless of the reader's knowledge of Japanese phonology. Accordingly, most Japanese, most English publications printed by Japanese publishers would never use Mitubisi, Kozima, Sinzuku, Mt. Huzi, etc., because it would cause confusion and mispronunciation for most readers.

If you intend to communicate with non-Japanese, then think less about the accuracy of converting Japanese characters into a phonologically correct version of romaji and think more about communicating effectively with your audience. If you try to communicate with your audience foremost in mind, you will convey your message much more clearly and with less distraction. What's more important? Phonologically correctiveness or quick, clear, and concise communication?

If you are an engineer--focus more on clear and concise communication and less on phonological accuracy!

"Hello. My name is Katsuo Junichi. I love the Tokyo Giants. I work for the Mitsutoyo company in Shinjuku. My wife often goes grocery shopping at the Meijiya grocery store. Last weekend, my family went for a drive around Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka in my brand new Mitsubishi. Next week, we will go to Chichibu to buy a Keepon robot made my Hideki Kojima."
Listen to the modified Hepburn Romaji version.

Download a romaji-kana conversion table here.

References:

About Japanese Romanization by by Yayoi Koizumi
Robots Take Center Stage at Nextfest, NPR, by Madeleine Brand and Xeni Jardin
WIRED NEXTFEST, September 14 - 16, 2007. L.A. Convention Center/South Hall. J&K Los Angeles, CA
Infanoid Project, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
Kunrei-shiki Rōmaji - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Japanese romanization@Everything2.com
Total Quality Japanese: The Romaji Conundrum

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塑性曲げ増大

2007-09-05T12:06:00.000+09:00

Today's phrase is 塑性曲げ増大. Let's break it down:

塑性曲げ【そせいまげ】 plastic bending (of a shaft)[1][2]
増大【ぞうだい】 enlargement

The original Japanese was:

高速の為、周辺の温度が上昇→塑性曲げ増大

The translation was:

Ambient temperature rises due to high speed →　Plastic bending increases

My suggested rewrite was:

Ambient temperature rises due to high speed resulting in an increase of plastic deformation.

References:

1. Animelab.com: Japanese -> English Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-09-21.
2. 日本機械学會論文集. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. A
Vol.61, No.584(19950425) pp. 755-759. 社団法人日本機械学会 ISSN:03875008. Retrieved 2007-09-21National Institute of Informatics

Additional Reading:

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リン酸塩被膜

2007-09-05T10:41:00.000+09:00

Original Japanese

リン酸塩被膜により、～低減、～防止

リン酸塩【りんさんえん】 phosphate
被膜【ひまく】 (n) coating
低減【ていげん】 reduce
防止【ぼうし】 prevent

Original Mistranslation

reduction of ～ and ～ prevention by bonderizing

Suggested/Corrected Translation

reducing ～ and improving ～ resistance has been achieved by treating the surface with a phosphate coating
reducing ～ and improving ～ resistance has been achieved by applying a phosphate film to the surface
reducing ～ and improving ～ resistance has been achieved by applying a phosphate coating to the surface
reducing ～ and improving ～ resistance has been achieved by treating the surface with a phosphate coating
reducing ～ and improving ～ resistance has been achieved by coating the surface with phosphate

References

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Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL)

2007-08-24T10:52:00.000+09:00

Today's term:

elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL)

弾性【だんせい】 (n) elasticity, resilience, resiliency
流体潤滑【りゅうたいじゅんかつ】 fluid lubrication, thick film lubrication

Online references regarding this topic:

Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication and the Reynolds Thin Film Approximation

http://ses.confex.com/ses/2004tm/techprogram/P1665.HTM

Timken - Bearing Lubrication - Engineering

http://www.timken.com/lubrication/engineering.asp

Car lubricants: fact and friction - Physics World - physicsworld.com

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/5020

Here are some common mistranslations or variations that I would discourage writers from using:

elastic fluid lubrication film
Elasto- Hydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL)
elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication

References

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No-Go Side--Tolerance Limit

2007-08-24T00:51:00.000+09:00

Today's topics is:

..."no-go side" tolerance limit

Alternate versions of this terminology are:

check the diameter with a go/no-go gauge...
the go/no-go plug gauge...

Note: gage = verb; gauge = noun
http://archive.metalformingmagazine.com/2000/10/Mahr.pdf

the no-go side of the plug gage should fit

http://www.ie.psu.edu/labs/mshop/lab1_3/lab1_3.htm

a go/no-go plug gauge…Using the “no-go” side

http://www.stitt-sparkplug.com/PSIM/psim_text.html

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Saimitsuka

2007-08-21T01:56:00.000+09:00

Today's word is: 細密化

Let's break it down:

細密【さいみつ】 minuteness

Alternate translations and real-world usage: closely; closer; minutely; minute; elaborate; detailed; fine; close; exact; precise

化【か】 (suffix) -ization; -ification

My first impulse was to translate 細密化 as miniaturization, which of course is incorrect. The translation I saw was subdivided as in "thickener* was subdivided" (増ちょう剤を細密化)

Needless to say, this translation was difficult for me to understand. My understanding of this grease product was that the thickener was modified to improve its dispersibility within the base oil, thus helping the grease to disperse more evenly within the bearing, which helps improve bearing durability, wear resistance, and helps reduce grease related noise. In the end, I retranslated the phrase 「増ちょう剤を細密化」as "improve thickener dispersibility."

I might be wrong, but some Japanese engineers tend to take a noun, such as 細密, and add the suffix 化 to create a new term. In my experience, this habit of adding 化 to a noun to create a new word is a sign of intellectual laziness, intellectual arrogance, or outright ignorance.

* thickener refers to component that is mixed with a base oil to form a grease that is used in bearing grease (i.e. ball bearing grease; roller bearing grease; etc.)

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Long Service Life

2007-08-09T11:27:00.000+09:00

Breakdown of 長寿命化

長寿命【ちょう・じゅ・みょう】long + lifespan + life
化【か】[suffix] ～ization; ～ification

「長寿命化」の直訳

長寿命化： long life-ication; long life-izaiton

「長寿命化」のよく見られ和英翻訳：

longevity
long operating life
long service life
long life
lifetime enhancement
measures (for improving) service life
extend life performance
facilitating product/component/part/etc. longevity
life extension

「長寿命化」の日本語・英語例文：

長寿命等級コンデンサ long-life grade capacitors
長寿命リチウムバッテリー a long-life lithium battery
長寿命インクジェットカートリッジ an extended-life inkjet cartridge
牽引力増強, 衝撃吸収, 長寿命化のためのゴム製前部パッド a rubber forepart pad for traction, shock absorbency, and long wear
高速長寿命グリースの開発 ―モータ軸受用グリース「ME-1」 Development of Long Life Grease for High Speed Application
ガラスのモールドプレスの際の高精度成形、成形の高速連続化、金型の長寿命化を目指して研究を行った。 This research has aimed at a high precision mold-press of glass, high rate continuous molding and a long-life mold.
通信装置用ファンの長寿命化の検討 High Reliable Long Life Cooling Fan for Communication Equipment
溶接構造物の長寿命化に寄与しうる鋼材とその利用技術 Functional Steel Plate and its application Technology for Fatigue Life Extension of Welded Structures

References:

Glossary of Technical Terms in Japanese Industrial Standards 5th Edition
ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典第４版
NTN Corporation
大阪工業技術研究所; 東京工業大学応用セラミックス研究所; 東芝機械株式会社精密機器事業部
NTT Network Service Systems Labs
住友金属工業 2住友金属工業

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Favorable Reputation

2007-07-26T22:02:00.000+09:00

Today's topic is the translation of 市場から高い評価をいただいてきました as found in an example from a Daiken Press Release (一般消費者をターゲットとする生活用品を市場投入！) [Cached copy available upon request]

Let's break it down:

市場【しじょう】 market; marketplace
高い【たかい】high
評価【ひょうか】 (n,vs) valuation; estimation; assessment; evaluation

be highly regarded for... ～で(高く)評価されている
be valued highly as... ～として高く評価されている
be valued highly by... 〈人〉から高く評価されている
rate...as a success ～を成功として評価する
頂く【いただく】 to receive

Literal Translation:

market から + high + value を receive
Receive a high value from the market

Notes:

市場から: from the market　より、in the marketplace は英語でよく使われる語句。
高い評価： high value より、favorable reputation は英語でよく使われる語句。

favorable reputation: 名声【めいせい】 (n) fame; reputation; renown

番付【ばんづけ】 (n) ranking// 好評【こうひょう】
頂いてきました：この場合、recieve より、enjoy + [a favorable reputation 等] は英語でよく使われる語句。

Final Result:

日本語：市場から高い評価をいただいてきました
英語：enjoy a favorable reputation in the marketplace

References

Jim Breen's WWWJDIC Server

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December 22, 2006: 60-Second Science - The Noise of Toys

2007-06-23T21:23:00.000+09:00

Go to the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN PODCASTS page and choose the December 22 podcast to listen to the podcast I have listed here. Listen to the podcast first and try to transcribe as much as you can.

After you try transcribing, then compare it to the version here. Can you fill in the blanks?

If you have small children, __________ __________ your house sounds something like this [noise]. Yes, it's __________, but parents beware--it could also be __________. Paul Kileny of the University of __________ warns that noisy toys might actually __________ a child's hearing. In the __________ of the holiday __________ , Kileny __________ by a toy store and measured the volume of the sound that comes out of various dolls, games, and musical instruments. He discovered that some items, such as an __________ player made for __________ , __________ a __________ __________ , which is the equivalent of a jet plane taking off--inside your head. To be __________ , Kileny says the toy shouldn't __________ 80 to 85 decibels--about the __________ of the average __________ cleaner. When you're out shopping for your __________ __________ , he suggests holding the gift __________ to your ear and letting her __________ . If it sounds loud to you, it will even sound louder to your kids because their hearing is more __________ than __________ . But what if your house is already filled with the happy __________ of children's toys, Kileny says take out the batteries--think of __________ __________ a gift to yourself.

How did you do? Here is the final answer key:

December 22, 2006: 60-Second Science - The Noise of Toys

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"Taisaku" in English

2007-06-15T02:01:00.000+09:00

The word 対策 is typically mistranslated by Japanese Engineers. For example:

安全対策	safety countermeasure
パソコンのセキュリティ対策	computer security countermeasure
温暖化対策	global warming countermeasure
トラブルの原因と対策方法	trouble-diagnosis countermeasure
環境リスク対策	environmental risk countermeasure

A "countermeasure" is defined as "A measure or action taken to counter or offset another one."1
In other words, a countermeasure is a measure used against another measure. A countermeasure is not the first measure, but rather, the second or third measure against the first measure.

The Japanese word 対策 does not have the same exact meaning as the English "countermeasure" so please be careful!

So, what are some better ways to translate the above terms? Let's take a look.

安全対策	safety measures
	safety precautions
	precautionary measures
パソコンのセキュリティ対策	computer security measures
パソコンのセキュリティ対策	security measures for computers
温暖化対策	measures against global warming
	measures to reduce global warming
	combat global warming
	efforts to address global warming
	measures to cope with global warming
	effective responses to global warming
トラブルの原因と対策方法	trouble-diagnosis chart
環境リスク対策	environmental risk management

Basically, if you want to use 対策 in a translated document, you should try to express in detail what kind of 対策. As always, try to express yourself in concrete details in English instead of vague terms, like 対策.

Good luck with your writing!

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Environmental Global Protection

2007-04-23T00:18:00.000+09:00

Here are some English phrases I have come across that were published by Japanese authors. I have rewritten and/or corrected the phrases, and have included some links to websites showing actual usage. If you come across similar phrases that you are unsure about, please ask me about them in class.

protection of global environment:

Although used by a few non-Japanese organizations, this phrase is more readily found in documents published by a few large Japanese corporations and the Japanese government. In the case of Japanese usage, the phrase tends to be a translation of 地球環境保全 (地球 earth; world, global + 環境 environment + 保全 preservation; conservation; protection). At the very least, this phrase needs a definite article (定冠詞) before the noun global environment. Therefore, “protection of the global environment” would be acceptable.

Personally, I don't like the usage of “protection” by corporations. Honestly, what corporation is so large that it can protect the environment? If you think about it, the very existence of a corporation impacts the environment. If a corporation really wanted to protect the environment, they would have to cease to exist!

Another point is the use of global environment. I know of no one company whose environmental policy will have a direct impact on protecting the environment on a global scale. True, efforts by companies can have an immediate effect on nearby waterways, local air quality, etc. However, if Sony switches from a petroleum-based plastic housing to a bio-plastic housing for their MP3 player, they may help reduce non-biodegradable waste that is dumped in landfills, but I wouldn't go so far as to say they are protecting the entire environment of the whole world!

Here are some suggested alternatives to protection of global environment:

commitment to environmental preservation
conservation and environmental preservation

Using the word preservation is a good choice. Companies can implement policies to reduce their impact on the environment, thus helping to preserve the current status or condition of the environment.

Examples:

Preservation of the environment is a fundamental duty of manufacturers.
環境保全はメーカーに課せられた基本的義務である。1
Preservation of the natural environment must be our number one goal.
自然環境の保存は、われわれの第一の目標でなければならない。2

More examples of excellent Japanese and English translations

Stating clearly green procurement standards for global environmental conservation and requesting that suppliers observe them.

(地球環境保全のためグリーン調達の基準を明示しお取引先様に遵守を求める。3)

Additionally, Japan continues to actively address environmental issues under the Medium-Term Policy on Official Development Assistance (formulated in August 1999) by providing cooperation in such diverse fields as air pollution, global warming, and the preservation of the natural environment in accordance with "Initiatives for Sustainable Development toward the 21st Century" (ISD).

(99年8月に策定した「政府開発援助に関する中期政策」においても「21世紀に向けた環境開発支援構想（ISD）」等に基づき積極的に取り組むこととされており、協力分野は大気汚染、地球温暖化、自然環境保全など多岐にわたる。4 )

Additional examples of usage by non-Japanese

environment protection→ environmental protection

protection of the environment → promotes environmental protection

contribution to the environment → contributes to energy conservation

environment contributing products → environmentally sound products

for earth's environmental protection → in response to environmental issues

for earth's environmental protection → in response to environmental concerns

for earth's environmental protection → in response to environmental challenges

protection of the environment → contributes towards protecting the environment

contributes towards environmental protection → contributes towards protecting the environment

protection of the environment → further promotes XYZ's commitment to environmental protection

contributes towards environmental protection → by making active contributions to environmental protection

improvement of environmental responsiveness → have minimum impact on the environment

improvement of environmental responsiveness → reduce environmental impact

環境対応型～ for environment response → is environmentally sound

環境対応型～ environmental protection dealing → is environmentally sound

(products that) require environmental awareness → (products that) lessen their impact on the environment

(products that) require environmental awareness → (products that) reduce energy usage and minimize environmental impact

environmental pollution of the vehicle → vehicle emissions

environmentally contributory (fuels) →(fuels) that are environmentally friendly and clean-burning

～ is environment-saving → ～ promotes efficiency and environmental compatibility

not hazardous to environment extremely → exceptionally low impact on the environment

環境貢献型～ environment contribution type ～ → ～　makes a contribution to safeguarding the environment5

環境貢献型～ environment contribution type ～ → ～　makes a contribution to a cleaner working environment

環境貢献型～ environment contribution type ～ → ～ contributes to a cleaner working environment

How to Indicate Eco Mark Products (エコマーク事務局 & 日本環境協会)

Environmental Protection Product Certified by the Eco Mark Office
Eco Mark Product
Eco Mark Product Certified by the Eco Mark Office
Eco Mark Product Awarded by the Eco Mark Office of the Japan Environmental Association
Environmental Protection Product Awarded by the Eco Mark Office of the Japan Environmental Association

科学技術和英大辞典（縮刷版）　Japanese-English Science and Engineering Dictionary

科学技術和英大辞典[CDーROM版]

コンパクト版科学技術和英大辞典

英辞郎第三版
ニコングリーン調達基準 / Nikon Green Procurement
外交政策、青書・白書・提言第2章分野ごとの日本外交 / Diplomatic Bluebook 2001, Chapter II. SECTION 4. B. Global Environmental Issues
CD-ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典英和・和英/用例・文例第4版

Underground Resources

2007-04-03T01:30:00.000+09:00

Terms: 地下資源 underground resources

念頭にあるのは鉄鋼の原料炭や金、銅といったモンゴルの豊富な地下資源の開発。

http://woman.nikkei.co.jp

ねんとう【念頭】 bearing in mind; mindful of; be borne in mind that; in mind
てっこう【鉄鋼】iron and steel
げんりょう【原料】raw material; raw materials
すみ【炭】charcoal
鉄鋼の原料 raw material for iron and steel
原料炭 coal as raw material // coal for coke making // coking coal // metallurgical coal // original coal
【きん】金 gold
どう【銅】copper
モンゴル Mongolia
ほうふ【豊富】in abundance; a wealth of; a rich lode of; abundant; abounding in
ちか【地下】しげん【資源】 underground resources
かいはつ【開発】 develop

Mindful of strong interest in Mongolia's underground resources such as copper and coal, ... development...

http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp

2006-12-15T01:13:00.000+09:00

Symposium

Q: What do you think today's word means?
A:

Here are some definitions of today's word:

Eijiro:

【名】シンポジウム、討論会◆特に聴衆の前で行うもの
・The symposium was held in the university lecture hall. 討論会は大学の講堂で開かれた。
【＠】シンポジウム、【変化】《複》symposia ; symposiums、【分節】sym・po・si・um

ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典第４版:

a ～シンポジウム, 討論会
◆hold an international symposium on circuits and systems 回路とシステムに関する国際シンポジウムを開催する

American Heritage Dictionary:

1. A meeting or conference for discussion of a topic, especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations.
2. A collection of writings on a particular topic, as in a magazine.
3. A convivial meeting for drinking, music, and intellectual discussion among the ancient Greeks.

1. Listen to the podcast. Make a list of all the vocabulary you can understand.

2. Visit this link and read the text provided. Note: The text provided is NOT the same as the podcast.
3. Try to find the parts of the text that are the same as the podcast. Try to find the parts that are different.
4. Try to transcribe as much of the podcast that you possibly can.
5. Compare your transcription with the text at this link.

International Interchangeable

2006-10-17T02:07:00.000+09:00

Today's word is 国際互換性.

For example:

ここでは、我が国の旅券のIC化及び安全かつ迅速な空港手続きを総合的に推進する「e-Passportプロジェクト」として、eパスポートの国際互換性確保を目指した取組を推進しています。(経済産業省)

I have seen Japanese engineers translate this phrase literally as "international interchangeable."

I would propose these translations instead:

Product ABC facilitates interchangeability across the globe for greater standardization and cost reduction.

Product ABC is fully compatible with domestic and foreign made products. (ビジネス技術実用英語大辞典第４版)

Product ABC is fully compatible and interchangeable with domestic and foreign made products regardless of the manufacturer.

ability to adhere

2006-09-07T02:49:00.001+09:00

付着性【ふちゃくせい】

adhesiveness (名詞)
adhesive (形容詞)
adherence (名詞)

例文：
Many OEMs recommend compounded gear oils. Compounded oils were initially used as steam cylinder lubricants because of their ability to adhere to cylinder walls in the presence of steam.

参照URL：Lubrication of Worm Gears (Noria Corporation)

Increase comfort levels through reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness

2006-09-07T02:48:00.002+09:00

外乱安定性向上
【がいらん】+【あんていせい】+【こうじょう】

外乱　(名詞)　noise or interference; external perturbations
安定性　(名詞)　stability; security; equilibrium; soundness
向上　(名詞、＋助動詞)　elevation; rise; improvement; advancement; progress; enhance; gain; leap upward; step-up in; contribute to; move up in

Typical Japanese translators will translate as "improved disturbance stability (of the car)," which is too vague. Your reader needs to know what kind of disturbance has been improved! I suggest something more specific and much clearer (in the case of a motor vehicle):

Increase comfort levels through reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness

例文：
Global industry trends, challenges, and solutions will be presented with a focus on innovative ways to positively impact the driving experience and increase comfort levels through reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness. The latest lubrication technologies, including the benefits of dry film lubricant applications and how they improve comfort, reliability, performance, and safety, will also be discussed.

参照URL： Dow Corning: Automotive Solutions

Motor and Fuel Economy

2006-09-07T02:48:00.001+09:00

An article about motors for automotive applications was published in the spring of 2005. In the Japanese version, it read as follows:

近年，ABC製品の市場は軽自動車，小型自動車から中型自動車へと規模が拡大している．その技術的背景としては，

・運転者の操舵をアシストするモータの高出力化への対応
・制御システムによる多様な操舵性能への対応
・燃費向上，環境負荷への低減

が挙げられる．

In the English version, the phrase in red was translated as:

Improved fuel economy and less burden on the environment

This is translation is not too bad. However, the rewriter suggested the following:

Simplified packaging and reduced mass for improving fuel economy and environmental compatibility

Why such a drastic change from the original translation? In the Japanese version, we can guess that the car has improved fuel economy and puts less burden on the environment in terms of greenhouse emissions. However, the subject of the original is not a car, but the ABC motor! Electric motors don't have fuel economy--they don't burn fuel. So, the original translation is illogical since the topic is features of a motor and not a car.

The rewritten sentence in blue focuses on what the motor has to offer if used in a vehicle.

When writing in Japanese, it is a good idea to consider that fact that your work will be published in English. Use a logical approach to your thinking and your writing. This will result in a clear and concise Japanese original, and will facilitate a smoother translation that more closely reflects your Japanese original.

torque converter

2006-09-07T02:47:00.000+09:00

トルクコンバータ

torque: ～トルク, ねじりモーメント, 回転力

The engine produces 162 pound-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. このエンジンは, (回転数)4500rpmで162ポンド・フィートのトルクを発生させる.

converter: ～コンバーター, 変換器[部, 機, 装置], 転換器, 転換炉, 転炉, 変換プログラム

a catalytic converter 触媒コンバータ
a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) デジアナ変換器, D/Aコンバータ

The term "torque converter" can be applied to many applications. For this posting, I will only discuss the usage of a torque converter for automotive or rolling stock applications.

Here are some good examples of using today's term:

Previous types of CVTs convey the engine power output to the decelerator using a power transmission device called a torque converter. (NSK Annual Report 2004)
A hydraulic torque converter is basically a pump and a hydraulic turbine in a common casing. (UK Heritage Railways)
[The CHP 37] is diesel powered with a torque converter, and a multiple unit control. (Australian Railway Historical Society)
They used compact 275 horsepower General Motors diesels originally developed for use in World War II. Two of these power plants with torque converter transmissions were mounted under the floor. (DRM Rolling Stock Roster)

This PDF file has some good pictures of several torque converters used in rolling stock applications:

The Hitachi Nico Transmission Co. Ltd.