How to say "stern" in Japanese

• 後部こうぶCommon
  no-adjectiveThe general word for the rear part of something — a vehicle, a building, a boat. For the stern of a ship in particular, 船尾 is the precise nautical term.
  ハイジャック犯はん達たちは飛行機ひこうきの後部こうぶに移うつった。↗

  The hijackers moved to the rear of the plane.
• 厳格げんかくCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers the character sense of 'stern': strict, severe, and rigid, insisting on rules and discipline. Use it for a stern parent, teacher, or strict rules — the figurative sense, never the back of a boat.
  彼かれらは時間じかんに関かんしては厳格げんかくな考え方かんがえかたをしている。↗

  They have a strict idea of time.
• 船尾せんびCommon
  nounThe precise nautical term for the stern — the rear end of a ship or boat. Choose this in any maritime or technical context; it means nothing but the back of a vessel.
• 謹厳きんげんCommon
  na-adjective, nounStern in the sense of a person's demeanor: grave, sober, and unsmiling, with a solemn air that never loosens into levity. It describes people, not rules or ships.
• 厳然げんぜんCommon
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Stern as an imposing, authoritative presence: an order or hierarchy that stands firm and brooks no challenge. It colors a stance or atmosphere with grave authority rather than describing everyday strictness.

For the nautical sense use 船尾 (後部 is the general 'rear'); for people and character, 厳格 stresses strictness, 謹厳 a grave, sober demeanor, and 厳然 an imposing, authoritative sternness.

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

• 後部こうぶrear
• 厳格げんかくstrict
• 船尾せんびstern
• 謹厳きんげんstern
• 厳然げんぜんgrave
• 冷厳れいげんgrim
• いかめしいstern
• いかついstern
• 艫ともstern
• 艫ろstern
• 艦尾かんびstern (of a warship)
• 厳げんstrict
• 苛烈かれつsevere
• 峻厳しゅんげんstrict
• 儼乎げんこgrave
• しかつめらしいformal
• 険しいけわしいgrim
• やかましいstrict
• 険悪けんあくstern (expression)
• スパルタstrict