How to say "annals" in Japanese

• 記きCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)The common, general word for a written account of events. For most senses of 'annals' — an account, chronicle, or history — this is the default choice.
  その回想かいそう記きは父ちちに対たいする深ふかい尊敬そんけいに満ち溢みちあふれている。↗

  The memoir breathes the deepest respect for his father.
• 年代記ねんだいき
  nounA less common but precise word for 'annals' in the year-by-year sense: a chronicle that records events in chronological order. Choose it when the emphasis falls on the year-by-year arrangement of the record.
• 史乗しじょう
  nounA less common word for history or annals. It suits talk of the written record of the past in general; for a specific year-by-year chronicle, 年代記 is the closer fit.
• 史籍しせき
  nounA less common word meaning historical works or writings. It fits 'annals' when you mean them as books — a body of historical texts — rather than the events themselves.
• 歴代史れきだいし
  nounA less common word for chronicles or annals that run through successive reigns or generations; its nuance is a continuous record spanning a long stretch of history.

Use 記 as the common general word for a record, chronicle, or history; 年代記 for year-by-year annals; and the less common 史乗, 史籍, and 歴代史 for written history in general, historical works, and records spanning successive reigns.

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

• 記きaccount
• 年代記ねんだいきannals
• 史乗しじょうhistory
• 史籍しせきhistorical works
• 歴代史れきだいしchronicles