Japanese / English Software Engineering Vocabulary
December 27, 2024
Recently, while going through older notes I took years ago, I stumbled across a list of handy words and expressions in Japanese related to Software engineering, so I thought it might benefit others too.
What is the goal and purpose if this?
The goal is not to teach you Japanese (or English for that matter), but to have a condensed compilation of terminology for a specific field, in this case software engineering.
Who is this for?
People who are starting out or are in the process of learning either Japanese or English, and are working or trying to get into the exciting world of software engineering. In my case I was already a software engineer when I decided to move to Japan. At that time I was able to understand and speak basic Japanese, but when I started my first job in a Japanese company, I quickly realised I was lacking crucial vocabulary in that specific field, so I started writing down words and expressions I picked up along the way, thus starting what would eventually become this compendium.
This list is non-finite and I will add more over time, so make sure to check back from time to time.
| English | Japanese | Pronounciation |
|---|---|---|
| Development | 開発 | kaihatsu |
| Estimate | 見積もり | mitsumori |
| Extension (File etc.) | 拡張子 | kakuchoushi |
| Automation | 自動化 | jidouka |
| automatically | 自動的に | jidouteki ni |
| Progress | 進捗 | shinchoku |
| Confirm, Check | 確認 | kakunin |
| Fix, Correction | 修正 | shuusei |
| Vulnerability | 脆弱性 | zeijakusei |
| Encryption | 暗号化 | angouka |
| Security | セキュリティ | sekyuriti |
| Software | ソフト、ソフトウェア | sofuto, software |
| Engineer | エンジニア | enjinia |
| Developer | 開発者 | kaihatsusha |
| Programming | プログラミング | puroguramingu |
| Code | コード | kodo |
| Debug | デバッグ | debaggu |
| Algorithm | アルゴリズム | arugorizumu |
| Design, Plan | 設計 | sekkei |
| Specification | 仕様 | shiyou |
| Specification document | 仕様書 | shiyousho |
| Requirements | 要件 | youken |
| Definition | 定義 | teigi |
| Project | プロジェクト、案件 | purojekuto, anken |
| Operations | 運用 | unyou |
| Manual, Documentation | マニュアル、ドキュメント | manuaru, dokyumento |
| Schedule | スケジュール | sukeju-ru |
| Task | タスク | tasuku |
| Deadline | デッド、デッドライン、締切、期限 | deddo, deddorain, shimekiri, kigen |
| Meeting | 会議、打ち合わせ、ミーティング、MTG | kaigi, uchiawase, mi-tingu, MTG |
| Issue, Problem | 課題、問題 | kadai, mondai |
| Priority | 優先度、優先優先順位 | yuusendo, yuusen jun'i |
| Agile | アジャイル | ajairu |
| Scrum | スクラム | sukuramu |
| Waterfall | ヲーターフォール | wo-ta-fo-ru |
| Kanban | カンバン | kanban |
| Language | 言語 | gengo |
| Control, Administration | 管理 | kanri |
| Processing | 処理 | shori |
| Calculations, Budgeting | 計算 | keisan |
| Authentication | 認証 | ninsho |
| Verification | 検証 | kenshou |
| Production (Environment etc.) | 本番 | honban |
| Defect | 不具合 | fuguai |
| Quality | 品質、クオリティ | hinshitsu, kuoriti |
| Quality Assurance, QA | 品質保証 | hinshitsu hoshou |
| Bug | バグ | bagu |
| Authorization | 認可 | ninka |
| Input | 入力 | nyuuryoku |
| Display | 表示 | hyouji |
| Screen, Monitor | 画面 | gamen |
| Terminal, Device | 端末 | tanmatsu |
| PC, Computer | パソコン、コンピュータ | pasokon, konpyuuta |
| 印刷 | insatsu | |
| Connection | 接続 | setsuzoku |
| Communication, Transmission | 疎通、通信 | sotsuu, tsuushin |
| Operation | 動作 | dousa |
| Execution | 実行 | jikkou |