PhotoGuide Japan PhotoWords M
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Last updated: 2005-06-18

Compiled and written by Philbert Ono

What's this? List of photography-related words in English and Japanese. The Main List has 1100+ words (click on the alphabet links). Many of the words are also categorized in separate lists (General, Camera, etc.). Meanwhile, the J-E List is a separate Japanese-to-English list of essential words not included in the Main List. And Signs is a photo gallery of Japanese signs explained in English.

Note: If the Japanese term contains an English word, the English word is spelled in normal English in the romanization. This is for easier recognition and maybe easier pronunciation and understanding. If the Japanese term is identical to the Engiish, a left arrow <- is displayed (you still have to pronounce it in the Japanese katakana way). Macrons are provided to indicate long vowel sounds. Credits here.

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ENGLISH
ROMANIZATION
JAPANESE
REMARKS
macro lens <- マクロレンズ
made in Japan Nihon-sei 日本製Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ニホンセイ Camera made in Japan: Nihon-sei no camera. 日本製のカメラ。
magazine (periodical) zasshi 雑誌
magazine pinup pictorial gravure グラビア
magenta mazenta マゼンタ
magnification bairitsu 倍率
magnified view (of image) kakudai hyōji 拡大Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.カクダイ表示ヒョウジ
magnifier/loupe rūpe ルーペ In Japan, the word " loupe" is more common than "magnifier."
main light <- メインライト
make-up (cosmetics) meeku, keshō メーク、化粧Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ケショウ A truly beautiful woman does not need make-up.
malfunction koshō 故障Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.コショウ
manual exposure manual roshutsu マニュアル露出Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ロシュツ
manual focus MF, <- MF、マニュアルフォーカス
manual focus camera <-, MF camera マニュアルフォーカス、MFカメラ
matte collodion printing out paper with gold and platinum toning kuro kōtaku collodion yakidashi inga Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.クロ光沢コウタクコロジオン焼き出し印画Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.インガシ Vintage photos.
matte paper kinume-chō 絹目調
maximum aperture kaihō shibori 開放絞り Note that "maximum" refers to the largest opening, not the largest f/stop.
maximum burst for continuous shooting renzoku satsuei kanō maisū 連続Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.レンゾク撮影サツエイ可能カノウマイCompiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.カズ
medium-format camera chūgata camera, chūban camera 中判カメラ、中型カメラ
memorable photo omoide no shashin Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.オモいでの写真シャシン
memory card <- メモリカード CompactFlash, etc.
menu screen menu gamen メニュー画面
metering mode sokkō hōshiki 測光方式
MF (manual focus) <- エムエフ
microfilm <- マイクロフィルム
military photography gunji shashin 軍事写真
minilab mini rabo ミニラボ Noritsu is Japan's largest minilab maker.
minimum aperture saishō shibori 最小Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.サイショウシボ The smallest opening.
minimum focusing distance saitan satsuei kyori 最短撮影距離
mirror lockup mirror up ミラーアップ
*これも和製Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ワセイ英語です。英語エイゴではmirror lockupが正解セイカイ
In your camera manual, "mirror lockup" might be mistranslated as "mirror up" since that's how they say it in Japanese. Complain to your camera maker and tell them to hire a better translator.
mirror/reflex mirror <- ミラー
mixed lighting mix kōgen ミックス光源
model (person) <- モデル
model No. (of camera, etc.) kataban 型番
model release <- モデルレリース
modeling flash modeling hakkō モデリング発光Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ハッコウ
modeling light <- モデリングライト
modern photography kindai shashin, gendai shashin 近代写真、現代写真
moire <- モアレ
mold See fungus.
monitor (computer) <- モニタ
monopod ikkyaku 一脚
month of photography shashin gekkan 写真Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.シャシン月間ゲッカン In Tokyo, it is June.
motor drive <-, mo-dora モータードライブ、モードラ
mounted slides mount-tsuki モウント付き When processing slide film, you must mention this if you want mounted slides.
movie (with digicam) dōga 動画Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ドウガ
movie camera <- ムービーカメラ
moving subject dōtai 動体
mug shot han-nin no kao shashin 犯人Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ハンニンの顔写真(刑務所ケイムショの入所ニュウショヨウ
*英語エイゴでは自分の顔写真があまりよく写っていない場合バアイ(暗い表情など)"mug shot"とよく冗談で言います。
There's no real equivalent in Japanese if you want to say it as a joke.
multiple exposures tajū rokō 多重露光
multi-segment/zone metering ta-bunkatsu sokkō 多分割測光 Nikon says "multi-segment," and Canon "multi-zone."
my photo  watashi no shashin Compiled by Philbert Ono at photojpn.org.ワタシの写真シャシン

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  J-E List | Signs | General | Camera | Lens | Accessory | Digital | Supplies

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Transmitting from Tokyo, Japan.