How to say "admiral" in Japanese

• 大将たいしょうCommon
  nounPrimarily the army rank of general. As 'admiral' it applies to the highest tier of navy officer ranks, so it names a specific rank rather than serving as a general term for admirals.
• 提督ていとくCommon
  nounThe standard word for a naval admiral or commodore, i.e. an officer commanding a fleet or squadron. When you want to say 'admiral' in the navy sense, this is the word to reach for.
  トラファルガー広場ひろばにはネルソン提督ていとくの彫像ちょうぞうがある。↗

  There is a statue of Admiral Nelson in Trafalgar Square.
• 将官しょうかんCommon
  nounCovers generals and admirals collectively as a class of senior officer ranks. It is not used as a title or form of address for one admiral, so it is seldom the word you want for an individual.
  彼かれは、将官しょうかんに、昇進しょうしんした。↗

  He was advanced to the rank of general.

For a naval admiral, 提督 is the usual word; 大将 chiefly means an army general but also names the top navy rank, while 将官 refers to the senior-officer rank class rather than an individual.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 大将たいしょうgeneral
• 提督ていとくadmiral
• 将官しょうかんgeneral
• アドミラルadmiral
• 海軍将官かいぐんしょうかんadmiral
• 軍配者ぐんばいしゃcommander (during the Sengoku period)
• 元帥げんすい(field) marshal