Technology is everywhere in Japanese daily life. This guide covers essential tech vocabulary — from smartphones and computers to social media and online life.
At a Glance
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| スマートフォン | sumatofon | Smartphone |
| アプリ | apuri | App |
| パソコン | pasokon | PC / computer |
| インターネット | inta-netto | Internet |
| ダウンロード | daunro-do | Download |
| アップロード | appuro-do | Upload |
| 充電 | じゅうでん (juuden) | Charging / charge |
| パスワード | pasuwa-do | Password |
Social Media and Communication
• LINE — The dominant messaging app in Japan | ツイッター / X — Twitter/X | インスタグラム — Instagram | ユーチューブ — YouTube | 投稿する (とうこうする, toukou suru) — Post (content) | フォローする — Follow | いいね — Like (heart)
Tech Problems
バッテリーが切れそうです。 — My battery is about to die.
インターネットが繋がりません。 — The internet won’t connect.
アプリがフリーズしました。 — The app froze.
Wi-Fiのパスワードを教えてください。 — Please tell me the Wi-Fi password.
YukaWhy is LINE so popular in Japan instead of WhatsApp?
ReiLINE was launched in Japan in 2011 and became hugely popular very quickly — partly because it was free to use and had cute stickers from the start! It’s now used for everything: chatting, calling, bill splitting, paying (LINE Pay), and even government services. WhatsApp has less than 10% market share in Japan.
YukaAre there Japanese tech words that aren’t from English?
ReiSome! 電子メール (でんしメール, denshi me-ru) = email (formal). 携帯電話 (けいたいでんわ, keitai denwa) = mobile phone (official). But most Japanese tech vocabulary is katakana loanwords — Japan adopted foreign tech terms directly. Interestingly, some terms differ from English: ‘copy and paste’ = コピペ (kopippe, shortened from copy + paste).
5 Practice Sentences
| # | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | スマホの充電が10%を切ってしまいました。 | My smartphone battery has dropped below 10%. |
| 2 | このアプリをダウンロードしてください。 | Please download this app. |
| 3 | LINEのIDを交換しましょう。 | Let’s exchange LINE IDs. |
| 4 | インターネットに繋がりません。パスワードを教えてもらえますか？ | I can’t connect to the internet. Could you tell me the password? |
| 5 | インスタにこの写真を投稿してもいいですか？ | Is it okay to post this photo on Instagram? |
Quick Quiz
1. What is the dominant messaging app in Japan? → LINE
2. How do you say “my battery is about to die”? → バッテリーが切れそうです
3. What does 投稿する (toukou suru) mean? → To post content (on social media)
Practice in the Comments!
Try using one of today’s words in a sentence in the comments! Join the Top Commenters ranking!
Keep Learning: Vocabulary Hub | Katakana Foreign Words | Japanese Loanwords
📖 Want to take your Japanese further? Practice speaking with a professional Japanese tutor on italki — affordable 1-on-1 online lessons at your own pace.
Comments