How to say "document" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 書類しょるいnounThe everyday word for documents as physical papers — forms, applications, and other paperwork you prepare, submit, or file. It is the usual choice in office and administrative settings.
- 文書ぶんしょnounA document in the sense of a written text, typically official or legal papers; it also covers formal letters. Think of documents drafted, issued, or exchanged between organizations.
- 記録きろくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbEssentially the word for a record — minutes, logs, and other accounts of what happened. Use it for 'document' only when the document's function is to record events or activity.無言が記録されたためしはない。↗No silence was ever written down.
- nounThe loanword, used much as English uses 'document'; it is the natural choice for technical documentation such as manuals and specifications, and appears freely in computing and business contexts.
- 証書しょうしょnounNarrow: a document that serves as written proof, such as a certificate or bond. It is not the general word for 'document' — reach for it only when the paper's purpose is to certify something.
Choose 書類 for everyday paperwork and physical papers, 文書 for official or legal written documents, 記録 when the emphasis is on recording or logging, 「ドキュメント」 for technical documentation, and 証書 only for papers that certify or prove something.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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