How to say "universal" in Japanese

• 一般いっぱんJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjectiveMainly the word for 'general': it describes what applies broadly or to people at large. Choose it when 'universal' really means 'general' or 'common to all', not abstract universality.
  その理論りろんはまだ一般いっぱんに認みとめられていない。↗

  The theory is not accepted yet.
• ユニバーサルCommon
  na-adjectiveA loanword; you will mostly meet it inside borrowed phrases and names rather than in ordinary sentences. For a statement that holds true everywhere, a native word is usually the better choice.
• 普遍ふへんJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe noun for universality: what holds everywhere or for everyone. It belongs to abstract, often philosophical discussion, and in sentences the adjective 普遍的 is frequently the form you need.
• 万能ばんのうJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers 'universal' only in the all-purpose sense: something versatile enough to serve any use or cure anything. It never expresses abstract universality of truths or principles.
  もちろん万能ばんのうではないからといって価値かちがないわけではないから、ＧＴＤはダメということにはならない。↗

  Of course you can't say that it's worth nothing because it isn't perfect, so that doesn't mean that GTD is useless.
• 普遍的ふへんてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe adjective for the true 'universal' sense: holding everywhere or for everyone. Reach for it when discussing truths, values or principles that apply across cultures and times.
  それには絶対的ぜったいてきで普遍的ふへんてきな意味いみはない。↗

  It has no absolute and universal significance.

For the abstract 'true everywhere' sense use 普遍的 (noun 普遍); 一般 means general; 万能 is all-purpose versatility; 「ユニバーサル」 is a loanword mostly in borrowed phrases.

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

• 一般いっぱんgeneral
• ユニバーサルuniversal
• 普遍ふへんuniversal
• 万能ばんのうall-purpose
• 普遍的ふへんてきuniversal
• 万国ばんこくall countries
• 世界的せかいてきworldwide
• 万有ばんゆうall things
• 万国共通ばんこくきょうつうworldwide
• 全称ぜんしょう(logical) universal