How to say "matter" in Japanese

• ことJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe broad, abstract sense of 'matter': an affair, occurrence, or point treated as a 'thing' rather than a physical object, and the default in general statements; usually written in kana alone.
  「Ｕ．Ｆ．Ｏとは何なんを表あらわしているの」「未確認飛行物体みかくにんひこうぶったいのことだと思おもう」↗

  "What does U.F.O. stand for?" "It means Unidentified Flying Object, I guess."
• 件けんCommon
  noun, counterA particular matter, affair, or case, especially one already known or under discussion; typical of business and formal settings, it is the word for referring back to 'the matter' at hand.
  私はこの件けんに関かんしては、あなたに賛成さんせいです。↗

  I agree with you on this issue.
• 事項じこうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA matter considered as an individual item or entry — the word for the separate items on a list, form, or document, each treated as its own distinct matter.
  ジェーンは申込書もうしこみしょに必要事項ひつようじこうを書き入かきいれた。↗

  Jane filled out an application.
• 案件あんけんCommon
  nounA matter that needs to be discussed, decided, or handled — an agenda item, pending issue, or case to be dealt with; typical of business, legal, and administrative talk.
  この案件あんけんをどう処理しょりするか、彼かれに下駄げたを預あずけるよ。↗

  I'm just going to leave it up to him to figure out how to clean up this mess.
• 事柄ことがらJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounMatters and affairs in general, often several at once, together with their circumstances; use it when speaking broadly of how things are rather than of one specific case.
  君きみの関かんする事柄ことがらではない。↗

  That is no business of yours.

Choose 「こと」 for the abstract 'matter' sense, 件 for a specific case or matter under discussion, 事項 for items on lists or documents, 案件 for matters awaiting discussion or action, and 事柄 for affairs and circumstances in general.

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

• ことthing
• 件けんmatter
• 事項じこうmatter
• 案件あんけんmatter (to discuss)
• 事柄ことがらmatter
• 事象じしょうevent
• 内容ないようcontents
• 課題かだいsubject
• 沙汰さたaffair
• マターmatter
• 質料しつりょうmatter (in Aristotelianism)
• こっちゃ(as for (that)) thing
• 一件いっけん(one) matter
• 物質ぶっしつmatter
• かまうto be an issue
• 儀ぎmatter
• 問題もんだいproblem (e.g. societal, political)
• イシューissue
• 物を言うものをいうto be effective
• ところthing
• 点てんpoint
• 段だんmatter
• たねmaterial (e.g. for an article)