How to say "interpret" in Japanese

• 訳すやくすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers interpret only in the language sense: rendering words from one language into another. For reading meaning into a remark or behaviour it is not the word; its core sense is translate.
  この文ぶんを英語えいごに訳やくしなさい。↗

  Put this sentence into English.
• 受け取るうけとるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThis is the word for interpret in the sense of 'take': someone's words or behaviour are received and read in a particular way, as when silence is taken to mean refusal.
  彼女かのじょは私の言葉ことばを侮辱ぶじょくと受け取うけとったようだ。↗

  She seems to have taken my remark as an insult.
• 解するかいするCommon
  suru verb (irregular), transitive verbInterpret as in construing meaning: grasping what a statement or text means, and taking it to have a particular sense. It sits close to understanding rather than to translating.
  私は彼かれの言葉ことばを脅迫きょうはくと解かいした。↗

  I interpreted his remark as a threat.

Use 「訳す」 for interpreting between languages, 「受け取る」 for taking someone's words or behaviour a certain way, and 「解する」 for construing the meaning of what is said or written.

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

• 訳すやくすto translate
• 読み解くよみとくto read and understand
• インタプリトinterpret
• 訳するやくするto translate
• 受け取るうけとるto take (someone's words or behaviour)
• 解するかいするto interpret
• 解すかいすto interpret
• 判ずるはんずるto solve
• 判じるはんじるto solve
• 取るとるto take (e.g. a joke)