Translation guide
How to express assigning responsibility for something bad, criticizing someone, or saying something is someone's fault in Japanese.
私のせいにしないで。
Don't blame me.
Saying that someone or something is responsible for a negative outcome.
The most common way to say 'it's someone's/something's fault'. Attach to a noun or nominalized phrase.
これは彼のせいだ。
This is his fault.
遅刻したのは電車のせいだ。
Being late was the train's fault.
To blame or criticize someone directly. Often used when confronting or accusing.
Literally 'has responsibility'. Used to state that someone is responsible (and thus to blame) for something.
この問題は彼に責任がある。
He is responsible for this problem.
To blame or condemn, often in a formal or public context. Stronger than 責める.
政府はその対応を非難された。
The government was blamed for its response.
To put the blame on someone/something. Often implies unfairly blaming.
彼はいつも他人のせいにする。
He always blames others.
Accepting responsibility or fault for something.
To take responsibility (and thus accept blame). Common in business and formal settings.
私が責任を取ります。
I'll take the blame/responsibility.
To blame oneself, to take the blame personally.
彼はすべてを自分のせいにした。
He took all the blame on himself.
Putting the blame on someone else, often unfairly.
To shift responsibility/blame onto someone else. Formal.
上司は部下に責任を転嫁した。
The boss shifted the blame onto his subordinate.
To falsely accuse someone, to pin the blame on an innocent person. Idiomatic.
彼は私に濡れ衣を着せた。
He pinned the blame on me.
Attributing a negative outcome to external factors.
To blame something (weather, situation, etc.).
彼は失敗を天気のせいにした。
He blamed his failure on the weather.
Deflecting blame or denying responsibility.
It's not my fault. Casual.
私のせいじゃないよ！
It's not my fault!
Literally 'I don't know', used to disclaim involvement or blame. Very casual.
そんなこと言われても知らないよ。
Even if you say that, it's not my problem / don't blame me.
English often uses 'blame' as a noun ('the blame lies with...'), but Japanese rarely uses a direct noun equivalent. Instead, use patterns like 〜のせい or 責任がある.
責任は彼にある。
The blame lies with him.
〜のせい is more colloquial and directly assigns fault, often with a negative nuance. 責任 is more neutral and formal, focusing on responsibility rather than just fault.