1.
angle (in photography, film, broadcasting); viewpoint; perspective
The angle from which a camera frames its subject, or by extension the perspective from which a topic is approached. Used heavily in photography, film, TV broadcasting, and journalism. For ordinary geometric angles, Japanese uses 角度, not アングル.
アングル is the English loanword "angle," used almost exclusively in the sense of "camera angle" or, by extension, the perspective from which a subject is approached. It is not used for geometric angles.
Common collocations
- アングルを変える: to change the angle
- カメラアングル: camera angle
- ローアングル / ハイアングル: low angle / high angle
- 真正面のアングル: head-on angle
- 俯瞰アングル: overhead/bird's-eye angle
- 自撮りアングル: selfie angle
- アングルを工夫する: to work out a clever angle
Similar / related terms
- 角度: angle (geometric/general) — this is the term for measurable angles in math, physics, and everyday contexts (角度を測る "to measure an angle"). For camera/visual angles, 角度 can also be used in slightly more formal writing.
- 視点: viewpoint, point of view — overlaps with the figurative "angle on a story" sense
- 構図: composition (of a photograph or painting) — the broader arrangement of elements within the frame; アングル is just one component of 構図.
Usage
- For photographers and filmmakers, アングル is the everyday word: アングルが良い ("the angle is good"), いいアングル ("a nice angle").
- In journalism, "this article takes a different angle on the issue" can be rendered as この記事は違うアングルでこの問題を扱っている, but 視点 is more idiomatic in straight prose.
- Do not say "三角形のアングル" for the angles of a triangle — that requires 角度.