How to say "margin" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 余裕よゆうnounCovers margin in the sense of spare capacity, leeway, or breathing room — time, money, or emotional slack. Use it when you could absorb extra demand without strain.
- 余地よちnounCovers margin as room or scope for something, especially possibility for improvement, doubt, or change. It points to space in which something could still happen or be done.
- 余白よはくnounCovers margin as blank space, especially the white space around text on a page or an empty area of a canvas. This is the physical, visual sense of the word.
- 差額さがくnounCovers margin as a difference in amount, typically between two prices, costs, or figures. It is really 'difference' or 'balance', so it suits financial or numerical gaps rather than leeway.
- nounThe loanword, matching English 'margin' directly. It is used for technical and business senses such as profit margin or a margin in typesetting, where a katakana term is natural.
Choose 余裕 for spare capacity or leeway, 余地 for room or scope, 余白 for blank space on a page, 差額 for a price or profit difference, and 「マージン」 for technical or business margins.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 余裕よゆうsurplus
- 余地よちplace
- 余白よはくblank space
- 差額さがくbalance
- マージンmargin
- 欄外らんがいmargin
- 端はしend (e.g. of street)
- ゆとりelbowroom
- 余剰よじょうsurplus
- 票差ひょうさmargin (e.g. in a vote)
- 値鞘ねざやmargin
- 差金さきんdifference
- 周縁部しゅうえんぶperiphery
- さやmargin (between two prices)
- 証拠金しょうこきんmargin (payment)
- へりrim
- 糊代のりしろelbowroom
- 代しろmargin (e.g. for stapling, etc.)
See also
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