What is the best Japanese translator?

What is the best Japanese translator? Would it be Google Translate, Deepl, Bing, ChatGPT or some other artificial intelligence or translation tool?

The Japanese language, despite being simple, is not easy to translate automatically with tools, as there are cultural and ideological differences. The fact that it is a SOV language also ends up making this process difficult. We carried out research to present a ranked list of the best Japanese translators, their differences, peculiarities and errors, as well as tips on how to use each tool appropriately.

Online Japanese Translators

The list of Japanese translators that we will display below is focused only on online and complete translators such as Google Translator, Deepl and other tools where you enter the text and receive the complete Japanese translation. Throughout artigo we will also present other types of translators, some specific, others that look like dictionary and some extensions and tools.

Deepl Japanese Translator

As the name suggests, the translation here is quite deep and detailed, known for being one of the best translators for Asian languages, Deepl is known for having a natural translation and also presenting alternatives.

The only problem with Deepl is that for large scale and other resources it is paid and is usually expensive. With it you have some functions such as alternative words, automatic replacement and learning that improves the translation over time.

If you want a quality Japanese translation, this might be your best option.

Google translator

Google Translate is a widely accessible tool, probably the best-known translator in the world. It is known for its convenience and additional features like voice input and camera translation, which are useful for quick translations on the go.

However, its accuracy may be lower when it comes to complex sentences and nuances of Japanese, often resulting in translations that are less natural and more prone to contextual errors.

For quick and casual translations, Google Translate is a practical choice, especially due to its free accessibility. Another advantage is its presence in other Google tools such as documents and spreadsheets, as well as API and mobile devices with offline translation.

Bing Translator

Bing Translator, powered by Microsoft, is a robust option for everyday Japanese translations. It is especially effective for basic translations and offers integration with other Microsoft products, making it easy to use within an already established ecosystem.

However, it may not capture the cultural and contextual nuances of Japanese as well as DeepL.

If you need fast translations and are integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, Bing Translator is a solid choice.

Systran

Specialized in technical and industrial translations, Systran offers precision in specific terms, making it ideal for companies and professionals who need technical translations.

It offers fast, supported translations for large volumes of text, with customization options for businesses. However, its use can be expensive and the interface less intuitive for common users.

For large-scale, accurate technical translations, Systran is an excellent choice.

Yandex Translate

Yandex Translate offers a wide range of input options, including text, images and websites. It is effective for simple phrases and kanji, but may struggle with complex or idiomatic phrases.

Its free accessibility is a plus, but its lack of capturing cultural nuances can be a disadvantage.

For quick checks and basic translations, especially in the context of language learning, Yandex Translate is a useful option.

Papago (Naver)

Developed by Naver, Papago is especially suitable for Asian languages such as Japanese, Korean and Chinese. It offers high accuracy and naturalness in Japanese translations and supports voice, image and text input.

However, it may have limitations in highly technical or specific texts and is less well known outside of Asia.

For everyday translations and informal contexts, Papago is an excellent choice, especially useful for travelers and Asian language learners.

ChatGPT and Intelligence Artificial

With the advancement of artificial intelligence in recent years, previous translators may have fallen behind in some aspects such as improvisation and understanding the sentence and its context.

Artifical intelligences such as ChatGPT, Llama, Gemini and other LLMs can provide better translations if used correctly.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT can provide high-quality translations when instructed appropriately, with the ability to add additional context to improve accuracy.

It is flexible and can be used for more personalized and interactive translations, although it is not specifically designed for translation, which can result in inconsistencies in technical or specific texts.

Despite its potential, the translation process with ChatGPT can be more laborious and costly, depending on the use and complexity of the text.

Mirai Translate

As the name suggests, Mirai Translate offers in-depth and detailed translations. Developed by Fujitsu, this translator is widely recognized for its accuracy and naturalness when dealing with Asian languages, especially Japanese. Using advanced neural networks, Mirai Translate is able to capture nuances and complex contexts, providing high-quality translations that are faithful to the original text.

Mirai Translate uses artificial intelligence to improve your translations. Advanced neural networks allow the platform to analyze and understand the context of each sentence, offering more natural and accurate translations. The use of AI also allows Mirai Translate to learn from each translation, continually improving its accuracy and adapting to new terms and expressions.

If you want a higher quality Japanese translation, especially for technical and business texts, Mirai Translate is an excellent choice.

Japanese Translation Tools

In addition to translators and the use of artificial intelligence, there are other tools to translate Japanese or proofread them for the best accuracy.

Linguee

Linguee is more than just a translator; is a tool that combines a dictionary with a search engine. It offers word-by-word translations with real-world context, using a vast database of example sentences taken from bilingual documents found on the web.

• Provides real context for each word or phrase, helping you understand how terms are used in different situations.
• Free and ad-free, which improves user experience.
• Focused mainly on word-by-word translations, not ideal for long or complex texts.
• Does not offer flashcards or bookmarks options for later study.

For Japanese students who want to understand word usage in context, Linguee is an invaluable tool.

Mazii

Mazii is a versatile tool that works as a dictionary and a browser extension. It allows for quick translations by clicking on words, as well as offering learning resources like flashcards.

• Highly customizable, with options to adjust pop-up speed and enable different features.
• Suporta translates from Japanese to 13 different languages, including French, Chinese, Korean and Russian.
• The free version has usage limits.
• Many features require a premium subscription.

Mazii is ideal for students and professionals who need an interactive dictionary with additional learning resources.

Jisho

Jisho is a Japanese-focused online dictionary that offers a wide range of features, from word search to full sentence analysis. It is highly valued by Japanese learners due to its intuitive interface and comprehensive functionality.

• Allows detailed searches using romaji, kanji, hiragana and katakana.
• Provides detailed information about kanji, including meanings, readings, and usage examples.
• It does not have automatic translation of full texts, focusing more on being a dictionary.
• May be limited for users who need quick and complete translations.

For those who study Japanese and need a robust tool to better understand kanji and vocabulary, Jisho is an excellent choice.

Tool Comparison

Sentence comparison

Despite the brief explanation of the tools, it may be better to analyze in practice how the translator performs when translating certas sentences. All translators can translate the sentence correctly, but some may sound less or more natural or formal. It's up to you to analyze which translation did better, since there is no certo or wrong.

The phrase we chose to translate is the following:

“Although we planned every detail in detail, the execution was hampered by a series of unforeseen events that required quick and creative solutions.”

Translation according to GPT:

私たちがすべての詳細を綿密に計画したにもかかわらず、一連の予期しない出来事によって実行が妨げられ、迅速かつ創造的な解決策が求められました。

Google Translate Translation:

私たちは細部に至るまで綿密に計画を立てましたが、迅速かつ創造的な解決策が必要となる一連の予期せぬ出来事によって実行が妨げられました。

Apple Translation:

「私たちはすべての詳細を徹底的に計画しましたが、実行は迅速かつ創造的な解決策を必要とする一連の予期せぬ出来事によって妨げられました。」

Deepl Translation:

"細部まで綿密に計画したものの、迅速かつ創造的な解決策を必要とする不測の事態が相次ぎ、実行は妨げられた"

Comparative table

To finish off the artigo, let's compare the tools so you can come to the conclusion which is the best translator for you:

Tool	Type	Additional Resources	Main focus	Benefits	Disadvantages
Linguee	Dictionary with Context	Real Context, Free	Language Students	Provides detailed context	Not ideal for long texts
Mazii	Interactive Dictionary	Flashcards, Customizable Pop-ups	Japanese Learning	Customizable, Suporte for multiple languages	Limits in the free version
Jisho	Dictionary Online	Kanji Details, Usage Example	Japanese Students	Detailed information about Kanji	Does not have automatic translation
Takoboto	Offline Dictionary	Works Offline	Quick Inquiries	Useful without internet access	Limited features compared to online
Mirai Translate	AI Translator	High Accuracy, Complex Context	Technical and Business Translations	High precision and quality	Costly for large-scale use
Google translator	Multilingual Translator	Voice Input, Camera	Quick Translations	Wide range of languages, free	Less accurate for complex sentences
DeepL	AI Translator	Translation Alternatives, Glossary	Translations Accuracy and Context	Natural and accurate translation	Expensive for large-scale use
Systran	Technical Translator	Customization, Technical Terms	Companies and Professionals	High precision for technical terms	Less intuitive interface
Yandex Translate	Multimodal Translator	Translation of Images, Websites	Quick Checks	Free, versatile	Difficulty with complex sentences
Papago	Multilingual Translator	Suporte for Voice, Images	Everyday Translations	High accuracy in Asian languages	Limitations in technical texts