How to say "manual" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 手動しゅどうno-adjectiveCovers 'manual' only as an operation done by hand rather than automatically — hand-operated controls or settings on a machine. It is never a book or booklet.
- 仕様書しようしょnounReally a specification document: a written statement of a product's or system's specifications, typical in technical and business settings; it matches 'manual' only loosely and is not the booklet that comes with a product.
- 教則本きょうそくぼんnounA book for learning a practical skill through practice — the 'how-to manual' sense, for skills you train in. It is not the word for machine operation or for product instructions.
- 教本きょうほんnounA book for teaching or learning a subject or skill; it covers both 'textbook' and 'manual'. For a how-to book on a skill it overlaps with 教則本, and either word can serve.
- 説明書せつめいしょnounThe printed instructions or manual supplied with a product: for the booklet explaining how to use an appliance or device, this is the word you want; it can also be a shorter explanatory leaflet.
For 'manual' as the opposite of automatic, use 手動; for the printed instructions packed with a product, 説明書; for a technical document of specifications, 仕様書; for a book that teaches a skill, 教本 or 教則本.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 手動しゅどうmanual (operation)
- 仕様書しようしょmanual
- 教則本きょうそくぼんmanual
- 教本きょうほんtextbook
- 説明書せつめいしょ(printed) instructions
- 手引書てびきしょhandbook
- 読本とくほんreading-book
- 要領書ようりょうしょmanual
- 便覧びんらんhandbook
- 宝典ほうてんprecious book
- 宝鑑ほうかんhandbook
- 手動によるしゅどうによるmanually powered
- 実用書じつようしょpractical guide
- 指南書しなんしょhandbook
- マニュアル車マニュアルしゃmanual transmission car
- マニュアル(instruction) manual
- 解説書かいせつしょ(instruction) manual
- 必携ひっけいhandbook
- 手引きてびきguide
- 道しるべみちしるべguide
See also
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