Verbs in application drop down lists

Question

I am working on translating pick list items that appear in a piece of software from English to Japanese. There is a mix of verbs and nouns on the lists, ex: workplace, attack, wolf, assault, etc... For the nouns I think it's probably a direct conversion, but for the verbs should they be included in dictionary form, or some other form?

For example I was going to use 攻める for attack/assault, but would I use it just like that in a pick list/drop down list/combo box?

Answer 1

If you look at menus in programs such as Open Office, words such as "編集" for 'edit', "挿入" for 'insert', and "設定" for 'configure' (or rather, configuration) all are nouns, but can be made verbs by adding the verb "する" as in "記録する" for 'save' (file, etc.).

A case where you might use a dictionary form of a verb to describe the ACTION could be for 'open' (a file): "開く", but this seems to be more of an exception. Often, there will be a noun form as mentioned above with the example of 'attack/assault' being "攻撃" which again can become "攻撃する", but its meaning as an ACTION can be inferred from how the noun can be used in context.

As mentioned above by Ito-san, mixing verbs and nouns can be confusing in a sequence if there is no particular reason for it. Otherwise, you could describe the context of usage further...