How to say "directory" in Japanese

• ディレクトリCommon
  nounCovers the computing sense: a directory or folder in a file system. This is the katakana loanword and is the natural choice whenever you are talking about computers; it does not serve the sense of a published book of names.
• 名鑑めいかんCommon
  nounCovers the printed-reference sense: a directory in the form of a list or register of names, such as a membership or company listing. Use this for a published book of entries, not for computer folders.
• 紳士録しんしろくCommon
  nounA who's who: a directory of notable or distinguished people, matching the glosses 'who's who' and 'social register'. It fits only that biographical sense of a social register; it is not the general word for a directory or a computer folder.

Use 「ディレクトリ」 for a computer folder, 名鑑 for a printed list or register of people or things, and 紳士録 for a who's-who of notable persons; the choice depends almost entirely on which sense of 'directory' you mean.

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

• ディレクトリdirectory
• 名鑑めいかんdirectory
• 紳士録しんしろくwho's who
• 人名簿じんめいぼdirectory
• 人名録じんめいろくdirectory
• 登録簿とうろくぼdirectory