How to say "cascade" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- na-adjective, nounThe loanword, found mainly in technical and scientific contexts for a cascade of stages or connections; for a literal waterfall it is seldom the word you want.
- カスケード表示カスケードひょうじnounA computing term for the cascade arrangement, in which open windows overlap in a stair-step pattern; use it only in this screen-display sense, never for waterfalls or figurative cascades.
- 多段ただんprenominal modifierLiterally 'multistage'; it matches 'cascade' only in technical senses where the English word means something built or occurring in successive stages, and it never refers to waterfalls.
- 瀑布ばくふnounA less common word for a waterfall or cataract; it fits 'cascade' only in the literal falling-water sense, as opposed to 小滝, a small waterfall.
- 小滝こだきnounLiterally a small waterfall; use it when 'cascade' means a small fall of water, and not for figurative, technical, or computing senses.
For literal falling water choose 瀑布 (a waterfall) or 小滝 (a small one); for technical 'successive stages' senses use 多段 or the loanword 「カスケード」, and 「カスケード表示」 for the cascading-windows display sense.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
