要約 — meaning in English: wrap up

yōyaku · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for summary

犯罪

hanzai

コーナー

お母さん

okaasan

要約

yōyaku

同情

dōjō

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers often use 要約 (yōyaku) in academic and professional settings when summarizing reports, presentations, or articles. It is also common in casual conversations when someone wants to recap the main points of a discussion or story they just heard.

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym is 概要 (gaiyō), which means 'outline' or 'summary.' However, 概要 carries a broader sense and is often used for formal descriptions, while 要約 specifically refers to a concise summary that captures essential points, making it more suitable in casual or direct contexts.

Culture

The term 要約 (yōyaku) derives from the kanji 要 (yō), meaning 'essential' or 'important,' and 約 (yaku), which means 'to contract' or 'to summarize.' This reflects a cultural emphasis on getting to the heart of a matter, a trait admired in Japanese communication.

FAQ

Q.What does 要約 mean in English?

要約 (yōyaku) translates to 'wrap up' or 'summary' in English, referring to condensing information to its essential points.

Q.How do you use 要約 in a sentence?

You can use 要約 in a sentence like this: 'このレポートの要約を作成しました。' (I created a summary of this report).

Q.Are there any common mistakes when using 要約?

A common mistake is using 要約 in overly casual settings. While it is neutral, it’s best to save it for contexts where summarization is needed rather than for informal chatter.

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