Blockchain and cryptocurrency have surged in popularity, forming a core part of the modern "cypherpunk" movement. Despite this growing interest, the field remains filled with technical jargon and complex terminology. The community can still feel niche, and finding accurate information often requires precise keyword searches.
To support those entering this dynamic industry, we’ve compiled a practical glossary of common blockchain terms in English, Chinese, and Japanese. This reference will help you search for information across different languages and accelerate your learning journey.
Since many Japanese terms are direct phonetic translations from English, you can copy the terms into search engines to find related resources in Japanese.
Core Blockchain Concepts
Blockchain
Chinese: 區塊鏈
Japanese: ブロックチェーン
Virtual Currency
Chinese: 虛擬貨幣
Japanese: 仮想通貨 (かそうつうか)
Cryptocurrency
Chinese: 加密貨幣
Japanese: 暗号通貨 (あんごうつうか)
Token
Chinese: 代幣
Japanese: トークン
Types of Blockchains
Public Blockchain
Chinese: 公鏈
Japanese: パブリックチェーン
Private Blockchain
Chinese: 私鏈
Japanese: プライベートチェーン
Consortium Blockchain
Chinese: 聯盟鏈
Japanese: コンソーシアムチェーン
Main Chain
Chinese: 主鏈
Japanese: メインチェーン
Sidechain
Chinese: 側鏈
Japanese: サイドチェーン
Crosschain
Chinese: 跨鏈
Japanese: クロスチェーン
Major Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin
Chinese: 比特幣
Japanese: ビットコイン
Ethereum
Chinese: 以太坊
Japanese: イーサリアム
Ripple
Chinese: 瑞波幣
Japanese: リップル
Stablecoin
Chinese: 穩定幣
Japanese: ステーブルコイン
Key Technical Terms
Mining
Chinese: 挖礦
Japanese: マイニング
Miner
Chinese: 礦工
Japanese: マイナー
Private Key
Chinese: 私鑰
Japanese: プライベートキー
Public Key
Chinese: 公鑰
Japanese: パブリックキー
Hash
Chinese: 哈希值
Japanese: ハッシュ関数 (はっしゅかんすう)
Consensus
Chinese: 共識機制
Japanese: コンセンサス
Proof of Work (PoW)
Chinese: 工作量證明
Japanese: プルーフ・オブ・ワーク
Proof of Stake (PoS)
Chinese: 權益證明
Japanese: プルーフ・オブ・ステーク
Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS)
Chinese: 權益委託證明
Japanese: 委任プルーフ・オブ・ステーク
Byzantine Generals Problem
Chinese: 拜占庭將軍問題
Japanese: ビザンチン将軍問題 (びざんちんしょうぐんもんだい)
Hard Fork
Chinese: 硬分叉
Japanese: ハードフォーク
Soft Fork
Chinese: 軟分叉
Japanese: ソフトフォーク
Lightning Network
Chinese: 閃電網路
Japanese: ライトニングネットワーク
Double-Spending
Chinese: 雙花攻擊
Japanese: 二重支払い (にじゅうしはらい)
Smart Contract
Chinese: 智能合約
Japanese: スマートコントラクト
Exchanges and Applications
Centralized Exchange
Chinese: 中心化交易所
Japanese: 中央集権化取引所 (ちゅうおうしゅけんかとりひきじょ)
Decentralized Exchange
Chinese: 去中心化交易所
Japanese: 分散型取引所 (ぶんさんがたとりひきじょ)
Decentralized Application
Chinese: 去中心化應用程式
Japanese: 分散型アプリケーション (ぶんさんがたあぷりけーしょん)
Fundraising and Offerings
Initial Coin Offering (ICO)
Chinese: 首次代幣公開募資
Japanese: イニシャル・コイン・オファリング
Terminology Note
While "virtual currency" often refers to in-game or online points, "cryptocurrency" specifically relates to electronic money built on blockchain technology. In Chinese and Japanese, these terms are often used interchangeably in everyday contexts. English sources, however, predominantly use "cryptocurrency."
👉 Explore more blockchain learning resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a public and private blockchain?
A public blockchain is open for anyone to join and participate in, like Bitcoin or Ethereum. A private blockchain is restricted to specific users, often used within organizations for internal processes.
Why is consensus important in blockchain?
Consensus mechanisms ensure all participants in a decentralized network agree on the validity of transactions. This prevents fraud and maintains the integrity of the ledger without a central authority.
What are smart contracts used for?
Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code. They automatically execute actions when predetermined conditions are met, enabling trustless automation for agreements and transactions.
How does mining work in Proof of Work?
Miners use computational power to solve complex mathematical puzzles. The first to solve the puzzle gets to add a new block to the chain and is rewarded with cryptocurrency, which also secures the network.
What is the main purpose of a stablecoin?
Stablecoins are designed to minimize price volatility by being pegged to a stable asset, like a fiat currency (e.g., USD) or gold. This makes them more suitable for everyday transactions and storing value.
Can you explain what a hard fork is?
A hard fork is a radical update to a blockchain's protocol that is not backward-compatible. It results in a permanent split from the previous version of the chain, often creating a new cryptocurrency.
Mastering these fundamental terms is the first step toward navigating the blockchain ecosystem with confidence. Efficient information retrieval is crucial when exploring any new and complex field. We hope this trilingual guide reduces the learning curve and helps you find the resources you need more effectively.