How to say "convert" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 変えるかえるichidan verb, transitive verbThe general-purpose choice: convert as changing something into a different form, state, or use. Typical context: turning a spare room into a study, or one kind of energy into another.
- 引き換えるひきかえるichidan verb, transitive verbIts convert sense is specifically money: converting one currency into another, dollars into yen and the like. It also means exchanging one thing for another, so it is not for converting forms or states.
- 替えるかえるichidan verb, transitive verbReally the replace word: swapping one thing for another, old for new. Its convert sense is that substitution side, so it is seldom the word you want for convert.
- 変じるへんじるichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers convert as change-into: something turning into something else, being transformed or transfigured. It views the change from the side of the thing that changes, rather than the agent bringing it about.
- 直すなおすgodan verb, transitive verbIts convert sense is reworking something into another form, close to its translate sense of putting words into another language. At heart it means fixing or correcting, so it is seldom the convert word.
Pick 「変える」 for changing something into a different form or state, 「引き換える」 for converting currency or exchanging things, 「替える」 for replacement-type swaps, 「変じる」 for one thing turning into another, and 「直す」 for reworking something into a new form.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 変えるかえるto change
- 引き換えるひきかえるto exchange (things)
- 替えるかえるto replace
- 変じるへんじるto change into
- 借り換えるかりかえるto convert (a loan)
- 改宗者かいしゅうしゃconvert (e.g. to Buddhism)
- 帰依者きえしゃconvert
- 改心者かいしんしゃconvert
- 転向者てんこうしゃconvert (e.g. to a cause)
- 作り変えるつくりかえるto remake
- 変ずるへんずるto change into
- 信仰者しんこうしゃbeliever
- 直すなおすto change
- なすto change (into)
See also
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