How to say "means" in Japanese

• 仕様しようJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA marginal match for 'means': this word's core senses are 'way' and 'method', so it is seldom the word you want here; read it as a way or method of doing something.
• 手段しゅだんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word you want for 'means' as a way or measure taken to achieve an end — 'a means to an end', 'by any means'; it presupposes a goal that the means serves.
  全すべての手段しゅだんが試こころみられたわけではない。↗

  Every means has not been tried.
• 仕方しかたJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounChiefly 'way, method': how something is done. Its 'means' sense is just that 'way' sense, and you will most often meet the word in 仕方がない 'it can't be helped'.
  あなたはチェスの仕方しかたを知しっていますか。↗

  Do you know how to play chess?
• 具ぐCommon
  nounA marginal match for 'means': 具 is really 'tool', and it is seldom the word you want here; pass over it when translating 'means' and choose by sense instead.
• 資産しさんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounTakes 'means' in its money sense — wealth, property, assets, as in 'a person of means'; it never means a method or way of doing something.
  株主かぶぬしたちは会社かいしゃの資産しさんを処分しょぶんする事ことを決議けつぎしました。↗

  Shareholders voted to liquidate the company's assets.

For 'means' as a way or measure for achieving something, choose 手段; 仕方 is the manner of doing something, 資産 is 'means' as money or wealth, and 仕様 and 具 are marginal matches you can pass over.

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

• 仕様しようway
• 手段しゅだんmeans
• 仕方しかたway
• 具ぐtool
• 資産しさんproperty
• 策さくplan
• 手立ててだてmeans
• 方策ほうさくplan
• 方法ほうほうmethod
• 方便ほうべんmeans
• 資力しりょくmeans
• 致し方いたしかたway
• やり方やりかたway (of doing)
• すべway
• ってのはmeans
• なすすべmeans
• 詮せんway
• 詮方せんかたway
• 方途ほうとway
• 方術ほうじゅつmethod
• 先立つ物さきだつものthe wherewithal
• よすがsomething to rely on
• 道具どうぐmeans
• 術じゅつmeans
• 方角ほうがくmethod
• 即そくequals
• 法術ほうじゅつmethod
• 力ちからmeans
• 手てmeans
• 道みちmeans
• 方ほうway