Engineering Terms - English Japanese Quick Reference Dictionary

The format of each word entry is illustrated below: Brief Definition Romanized Pronunciation Part of Speech English Word Japanese Equivalent · The act of applying the principals of

1

Introduction

This quick reference dictionary was compiled to assist the

engineering student or intern in learning vocabulary words that

would be helpful if the student found himself or herself working (or

studying) in Japan It assumes the reader has a basic

understanding of the structure and grammar of the Japanese

Language, but such knowledge is not necessary to benefit from

the book Words were chosen based on English vocabulary from

my own domestic work experience and input from students that

have traveled to and worked in Japan in the Engineering field

Words from many different engineering specialties are included, as

well as some day-to-day or business terms that are used

frequently in a professional engineering setting Words in the latter

category are separated out into a ‘basic words’ section for ease of

use

At times, multiple entries of the same word are included

Sometimes this reflects the fact that there are multiple Japanese

translations of the same English word Other times, there are two

different Japanese words that are used for this entry, and their use

depends on whether the word is used in the context of job-related

communication or in the context of day-to-day conversations

The format of each word entry is illustrated below:

Brief Definition Romanized Pronunciation

Part of Speech English Word Japanese Equivalent

· The act of applying the principals of science

and mathematics to natural energy sources

for the benefit and growth of society koogaku

2

One final note concerning the Romanized Japanese Pronunciation: The following English conventions were used:

▪ Double Consonants: “tt” ( ie ワット = Watto)

▪ Long Vowels: “oo” (ie ほそおどおろ = Hosoodooro)

▪ Two “n’s” next to each other: “n’n”

(ie トンネル = Ton’neru, so it is not confused with a double consonant.)

A number which is equal in magnitude to a given

real number but is always nonnegative

The theoretical temperature at which no heat

energy can exist; also defined as 0 Kelvin or

A beginning section of text that summarizes the

essentials of the following document

That which is confined to theory or speculation as

opposed to practical application

•

aerospace engineering

The branch of engineering that deals with flight within the earth's atmosphere and the space beyond

noun

koukuuuchuu koogaku 航空宇宙工学

•

Hard non-reactive substance (e.g gravel) mixed

with a cementing material to form concrete or

A branch of mathematics using symbols (letters)

to explore the relationships between numbers

A procedure for solving a mathematical problem

using a series of succinct repeatable steps

A narrow street that allows access to the rear of

buildings or connects parallel streets

•

The art or practice of designing the layout and

appearance of structures, especially habitable

artificial neural network

A man-made computer architecture in which

processors are interconnected in a manner

suggestive of the neurons in a human brain

Present in the proper chemical or physical form to

be usable (such as by an industrial plant)

adj.

shiyoukanou 使用可能

•

A B

axiom

A statement that is accepted as true, to be used

as a basis for a mathematical argument

Stability produced by equal distribution of force

on each side of an axis

One of several hardened steel balls that roll

easily over each other, to be used in mechanical

An easily visible plastic barrier used in roadway

construction to contain traffic

A dense immovable wall that is intended to block

passage of traffic between lanes

big bang theory

The astronomic theory that states the universe originated from a single explosion of nearly infinite energy

An adhesive or cementing substance that

combines two materials

A cylindrical mass of material, usually excavated

from the ground for testing purposes

An auxiliary structural member that transmits or

supports force or pressure

•

Something produced in an industrial or biological

process that is in addition to the desired product

•

C C

carbon

A nonmetallic element that forms diamond and

graphite and is found in coal and other

A container that holds an otherwise

unmanageable substance and is usually easily

A substance (i.e an enzyme) that enables a

chemical reaction to proceed at a faster rate, or

under different conditions than otherwise possible

A very small division of living matter, with one

center of activity, able alone or with others to

perform all the operations necessary for life

A statement made by an official person that a fact

or facts are true

•

C C

circuit

The complete path of an electric current that

includes a source of electric energy

A measurement of length that describes the

distance around the outer edge of a circle

Branch of engineering that deals with the design

and analysis of structures and other public works

A systematic approach for grouping items into

categories according to pre-established criteria

In the direction in which the hands of a clock

rotate when viewed from the front

•

A manufactured machine used to relay video or

audio signals from orbit in outer space

The knowledge that enables a person to perform

a specific function well

•

C C

compression (force)

A force which tends to shorten or contract the

body on which it is applied

Act of creating construction documents using

specialized computer software

•

To make unusable through the introduction of

dangerous or undesirable substances

A legal document describing a binding agreement

between two or more parties

A person who contracts to perform work or

provide supplies for civil engineering projects

An often small mechanical or electronic device

with a practical use

•

C C

corporation

A legally autonomous association of employers

and employees in a business venture

An equivalent weight used in mechanical systems

to balance forces for operational purposes

•

The surface traced by a straight line moving

parallel to another fixed straight line

Factual information (such as measurements)

used as a basis for reasoning or calculation

•

The limit of the ratio of the change in a function to

the change in its independent variable as the

variable approaches zero

A sketch or drawing showing the main features of

something to be carried out or build

A deviation from a direct course, usually used in

the case of roadway closures

•

D E

drag

The resisting force acting on a body (such as an

airplane) moving through a fluid (such as air)

The process of removing undesirable excess

liquid from a surface

A civil engineering work used to remove rainwater

from roadways or land

A privately driven surface that connects a public

roadway to a private lot or building

Producing a desired effect, such as the stresses

in soils that determine strength

Able to spring back into shape after being

stretched or able to spring back into shape after

being stretched or bent

Branch of engineering that deals with the design

of electrical circuits and components

Steel comprised of a percentage of silicon, used

to transform kinetic energy to electrical energy, or vice-versa (Also called Silicon Steel)

•

The most basic indivisible particles that comprise

matter and energy and dictate fundamental forces

The height of something, as measured from the

surface of the ocean

A group within a company or government agency

which practices engineering

Complex proteins that are produced by living cells

to speed up specific biochemical reactions

noun

machigai 間違い

•

E E

estimate

A statement of the cost of work to be done; a

rough or approximate calculation

An operation carried out under controlled

conditions in order to discover an unknown effect

•

A branch of physics that deals with fluids, their

properties and their motion

An influence, that if applied to a free body, results

in its acceleration and sometimes in its

A general fact, rule, or principle expressed in

usually mathematical symbols

•

F G

function

A mathematical correspondence where one

variable is linked to another in an exclusive

Theory that challenges traditional logic as it

applies to self evident truths

noun

kikagaku 幾何学

•

A metric unit of mass equal to the mass of one

cubic centimeter of water at its maximum density

A diagram that represents the variation of a

variable in comparison with other variables

A safety system of posts and railing constructed

along road embankments

A sloped or depressed area adjacent to a

roadway curb line used to channel rainfall and

•

Describing electric lines that posses a

dangerously large electric potential

A jointed device on which a door or other

swinging part turns

adj.

fuzuitekina

付随的な

•

incline (of a road)

A sloped or slanted surface

•

I I

inertia

Property of matter where a body in a motion state

tends to remain in it unless acted upon by

Energy having a wavelength between about 700

nanometers and 1 millimeter

Sufficiently small in comparative size, quantity, or

number as to be not worth considering

The act of using mathematical operations to find

a function whose differential is known

adj.

gyaku suu 逆数

•

A heavy malleable ductile magnetic silver-white

metallic element that readily rusts in moist air

A spacial system characterized by three equal

axes at right angles

An assemblage of systematically arranged keys

by which a machine or device is operated

noun

kenban 鍵盤

•

A place equipped for experimental study in a

science or for testing and analysis

The usually rapid downward movement of a mass

of rock, earth, or artificial fill on a slope

A device that utilizes the natural oscillations of

atoms between energy levels to make tangible

•

M M

management

The group of persons responsible for the

conducting or supervising of something

Process of making raw materials into a product

suitable for use

The largest value assumed by a continuous

function defined on any given interval

A branch of physical science that deals with

energy and forces and their effect on bodies

Relating to physicians or to the science that deals

with the maintenance of health

•

A small manual device that controls movement of

the cursor on a computer monitor

A mathematical operation comprised of adding an

integer to itself a specified number of times

Related to something which is not directly or

inversely proportional to a given variable A

•

origin (of coordinates)

The intersection of the axes of a coordinate

Geometric figure similar to a circle, but with two

differing axis lengths

•

panel

A flat usually rectangular piece of construction

material made to form part of a surface

Extending in the same direction, everywhere

equidistant, and not meeting

•

P P

plaster

A pasty mixture of lime, water, and sand that

hardens on drying and is used for coating walls

A structural material consisting of sheets of wood

cemented together at varying angles

•

Act of inputting high-level language commands

into a computer to be compiled and executed

•

A line segment extending from the center of a

circle or sphere to its circumference or bounding

A permanent road having a line of rails fixed to

ties for the movement of locomotives

Force exercised by a body in reply to another

force, which is of equal strength and acts in the

A place where something is kept in store, such as

an artificial lake where water is collected

R R

resistor

An electric component that offers an opposing

force to current that passes through it

A structural barrier used to hold back an

engineering material, usually soil

A headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two

or more pieces of metal

•

A measuring instrument used to read distances

off of engineering or architectural plans

Exhibiting principles of a department of

systematized knowledge as an object of study

A simple machine which is used for fastening

pieces of solid material together

Any of several devices for absorbing the energy

of sudden impulses or shocks in machinery

noun

kanshooki

緩衝器

•

short circuit (electric)

A connection of lower resistance accidentally made between points on a circuit where resistance is normally higher

Steel comprised of a percentage of silicon, used

to transform kinetic energy to electrical energy, or vice-versa (Also called Electric Steel)

•

The set of programs and procedures associated

with a system, especially with computers

The upper layer of earth that may be dug and in

which plants grow

A metal or metallic alloy which is melted and used

to join metallic surfaces

The ratio of the density of a substance to the

density of some other control substance

The maximum or minimum road speed permitted

by law in a given area

•

S T

strain

Minute deformations caused by tension,

compression, or other forces

The scalar value that describes a force acting

over a surface divided by the area of that surface

A bridge that is supported from above by spans of

cables and links

•

A solid-state electronic device that is used to

control the flow of electricity in electronic

Act of transporting and delivering energy or

material from one location to another

A branch of mathematics that deals with the

properties of triangles and trigonometric

A covered passageway; a horizontal passageway

through or under an obstruction

•

•

In soil mechanics, the ratio of the void spaces to

solid volume within a soil

A pipe of large diameter used to transmit water

between distribution centers

•

X Y

X-rays

Any of the electromagnetic radiations similar to

visible radiation but having shorter wavelength

One of the three axes in a three-dimensional

rectangular coordinate system

Magnitude of stress at which a structural element

stops exhibiting elastic strain

•

•

A thermometric scale - the interval between the

freezing / boiling point of water is divided into 100

An association of persons for carrying on a

commercial or industrial enterprise

•

System of correspondence using computers and

electronically stored text and graphics

A person who is trained in or follows as a

profession a branch of engineering

The act of applying the principles of science and

mathematics to natural energy sources for the

benefit and growth of society

The complex whole of physical, chemical, and

biological factors that acts upon an organism

The result of making the environment impure by

contam-ination with man-made waste

greater than (math; >)

A mathematical operator used between numbers such that the first is larger than the second

less than (math; <)

A mathematical operator used between numbers such that the first is smaller than the second

noun

yori sukunai

〜より少ない

•

Anything from which something is or can be

made; a natural or man-made substance

The science of numbers and their operations,

interrelations, and combinations

A unit belonging to a mathematical system which

is subject to specified mathematical laws

A place where business is regularly transacted or

a service is regularly supplied

president (of a company)

The highest ranking member of an organization

•