Translation guide
How to express being dismissed from a job, position, or formal setting in Japanese. Covers being fired, laid off, or asked to leave, with attention to formality and euphemism.
The speaker is dismissed from employment, typically for cause or performance reasons.
The most common and neutral way to say 'be fired' in everyday conversation. Literally 'become neck', it is widely understood and not overly harsh.
彼は遅刻が多くて首になった。
He was fired for being late too often.
Formal term for 'be dismissed/laid off'. Used in official contexts or news reports. The passive form of 解雇する (to dismiss).
不況のため、多くの社員が解雇された。
Many employees were dismissed due to the recession.
Katakana version of 首になる, often used in casual or emphatic contexts. Same meaning but can feel slightly more direct or slangy.
また遅刻したらクビになるよ。
If you're late again, you'll be fired.
A very formal and somewhat dated term for dismissal, often used in bureaucratic or legal contexts. Rare in daily speech.
彼は汚職の疑いで馘首された。
He was dismissed on suspicion of corruption.
The speaker loses their job because of restructuring, downsizing, or economic reasons, not personal fault.
Common term for being laid off due to corporate restructuring. From 'restructuring', it implies no personal blame.
父が会社のリストラで職を失った。
My father lost his job due to corporate restructuring.
Formal term for 'be laid off due to workforce reduction'. Often used in legal or HR contexts.
工場閉鎖で整理解雇された。
I was laid off due to the factory closure.
A more specific phrase meaning 'be fired due to personnel reduction'. Combines casual 首になる with formal 人員整理.
彼は人員整理で首になった。
He was let go in the staff reduction.
The speaker is removed from a role, title, or responsibility, not necessarily employment.
Used when someone is dismissed from a post, such as a manager or coach. Implies removal from a specific position.
監督が成績不振で解任された。
The manager was dismissed due to poor results.
Formal term for dismissal from an official position, often used in government or corporate governance.
大臣が不祥事で罷免された。
The minister was dismissed over a scandal.
The speaker is asked or ordered to leave a room, building, or gathering.
Formal expression for being ordered to leave a venue, such as a courtroom or meeting.
騒いだ観客は退場を命じられた。
The noisy spectators were told to leave.
Causative-passive form meaning 'be made to leave'. Slightly less formal than 退場を命じられる.
会議中に退出させられた。
I was made to leave during the meeting.
A lawsuit, charge, or appeal is thrown out by a court.
Standard legal term for a case or motion being dismissed by a judge.
訴えは証拠不十分で却下された。
The lawsuit was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Similar to 却下 but often used for appeals or final rulings. Slightly more formal.
上告は棄却された。
The appeal was dismissed.
首になる is the everyday expression for being fired, suitable for casual conversation. 解雇される is formal and often appears in written documents or news. Use 首になる with friends, 解雇される in official contexts.
昨日、首になったんだ。
I got fired yesterday.
当社は従業員を解雇することを決定しました。
Our company has decided to dismiss employees.
Direct translations like 退けられる or 放逐される are rarely used for job dismissal and can sound unnatural or archaic. Stick to the options above based on context.