How to say "gradient" in Japanese

• 勾配こうばいCommon
  nounThe everyday word for the slope or incline of a road, roof, or terrain; also used for gradient in mathematics. When you mean a physical or calculable steepness, this is usually the word you want.
  屋根やねの勾配こうばいをどうするか決きめるのはとても重要じゅうようです。↗

  It is very important to decide what to do about the slope of the roof.
• ぼかし
  nounRefers to blurring, including the soft gradual transition between colors in an image or design. As a translation of 'gradient' it applies only to this visual sense, not to slopes or grades.
• グラディエント
  nounA loanword used mainly in graphic design and digital imaging for a smooth color transition. It does not cover slopes or steepness; for those meanings you need a different word.
• 傾斜度けいしゃど
  nounA technical term for the degree or measure of a slope's steepness. It suits engineering or surveying contexts rather than everyday talk about an incline.
• 階調かいちょう
  nounMeans gradation, especially of tone or shading in images and printing. It is really about tonal steps, so it is seldom the word you want for a slope or mathematical gradient.

Use 勾配 for physical slopes or inclines, 「ぼかし」 for blurred color transitions in images, 「グラディエント」 mainly in design contexts, 傾斜度 for measured steepness, and 階調 for gradations of tone.

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

• 勾配こうばいslope
• ぼかしblurring (e.g. of an image)
• グラディエントgradient
• 傾斜度けいしゃどgradient
• 階調かいちょうgradation