Translation guide
The act of asking for something, usually money or food, as charity or a favor. In Japanese, expressions vary by context: street begging, polite requests, or desperate pleas.
Asking strangers for money or food on the street, often associated with homelessness.
The most direct term for begging, especially on the street. Can refer to the act or the person (beggar).
駅の前で物乞いをしている人を見かけた。
I saw someone begging in front of the station.
Literally 'beggar', often used for the person rather than the act. Can be derogatory; use with caution.
Considered rude or insensitive in modern usage; 'ホームレス' (homeless) is more neutral.
彼は乞食に小銭を渡した。
He gave some change to a beggar.
A polite phrase literally meaning 'please give me money as charity'. Used by beggars.
路上で「お金を恵んでください」と書かれた段ボールを持っている。
On the street, holding a cardboard sign that says 'Please spare some money'.
Earnestly asking someone for something, often with emotional intensity.
To entreat or implore; a formal, strong request. Used in serious situations.
彼は助けてくれと懇願した。
He begged for help.
To plead or beg persistently; implies repeated requests.
彼女に頼み込んで、やっと承諾してもらった。
I begged her repeatedly until she finally agreed.
A common way to start a begging sentence: 'Please, I'm begging you...'
お願いだから、もう一度チャンスをください。
Please, I'm begging you, give me one more chance.
To appeal or plead pitifully; more emotional and literary.
彼は命だけは助けてくれと哀願した。
He begged pitifully for his life.
Assuming the conclusion in the premise; circular reasoning.
The formal term for 'begging the question' in logic.
その議論は論点先取の誤謬を含んでいる。
That argument contains the fallacy of begging the question.
Circular reasoning; often used interchangeably with 論点先取.
それは循環論法だ。
That's circular reasoning.
Something is available but nobody wants it.
Means 'to be left over' or 'surplus'; used when something goes unused.
チケットが余っているなら、私にください。
If the tickets are going begging, please give them to me.
Literally 'nobody wants it'; a natural way to express that something is unwanted.
その仕事は誰も欲しがらなかった。
That job went begging.
The English idiom 'begging the question' does not mean 'to raise the question'. In Japanese, use 論点先取 or 循環論法 for the logical fallacy. For 'raises the question', use 疑問が生じる (ぎもんがしょうじる).
物乞い (ものごい) is the neutral term for the act of begging. 乞食 (こじき) refers to a beggar and is often derogatory. In modern contexts, ホームレス (homeless) is preferred when referring to people.
彼は街角で物乞いをしていた。
He was begging on the street corner.
お願いだから、行かないで。
I'm begging you, please don't go.