How to say "memorandum" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbA brief, informal note or memo, typically jotted down as a reminder; for most ordinary senses of 'memorandum' this is the word you want.
- 覚書おぼえがきnounA written record made so that matters are not forgotten; in business and legal settings it refers to a formal document recording agreed points, not a casual jotted note.
- 手記しゅきnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReally a personal written account of one's experiences or thoughts, often memoir-like, rather than a working memo; it is seldom the word you want for an everyday 'memorandum'.
- 念書ねんしょnounA signed written pledge or note of assurance given to another party, often promising or acknowledging something; it is not the word for an ordinary memo or informal note.
- 手控えてびかえnounNotes, or a notebook of them, kept at hand for one's own later reference; closer to a personal memorandum book than to a message or formal document.
Choose 「メモ」 for brief informal notes, 覚書 for written records of matters, including formal business documents, and 「手控え」 for notes kept for one's own reference; 手記 and 念書 are really a personal account and a written pledge.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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