Translation guide
A disservice is an action that harms someone or something, often unintentionally, by being unhelpful or counterproductive. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various phrases and verbs that convey causing trouble, inconvenience, or harm, rather than a single direct equivalent.
Expressing that an action or decision has harmed someone or something, often by being unhelpful or counterproductive.
A common and natural way to say that you cause trouble or inconvenience to someone, which can be a form of disservice. It implies that your actions negatively affect others.
彼にそんなことを言うのは迷惑をかけるだけだ。
Saying that to him would only do him a disservice.
A more formal expression meaning 'to bring disadvantage' or 'to cause detriment'. Suitable for written or formal contexts.
その政策は国民に不利益をもたらした。
That policy did a disservice to the citizens.
Literally 'to become harmful'. Used when something ends up causing harm or being detrimental, often despite good intentions.
過保護は子供の害になることがある。
Overprotection can do a disservice to children.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'to pull someone's leg', i.e., to hinder or hold someone back. It implies actively doing a disservice by obstructing progress.
彼のミスがチーム全体の足を引っ張った。
His mistake did a disservice to the whole team.
Describing actions that harm one's own interests or reputation, often through poor choices.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to strangle oneself', i.e., to do something that harms oneself. It vividly conveys self-inflicted disservice.
そんなことを言ったら自分で自分の首を絞めることになるよ。
If you say that, you'll be doing yourself a disservice.
Literally 'to incur a loss oneself'. It means to act against one's own interest, doing a disservice to oneself.
彼は自ら損をするような決断をした。
He made a decision that did himself a disservice.
Means 'to become disadvantageous to oneself'. It describes actions that put oneself at a disadvantage.
正直に話しすぎて自分に不利になった。
I was too honest and did myself a disservice.
Expressing that something undermines or damages a cause, reputation, or effort.
Means 'to damage one's reputation'. It is a direct way to say that an action does a disservice to someone's standing.
あの記事は会社の評判を落とした。
That article did a disservice to the company's reputation.
Literally 'to damage trust/credibility'. It is used when an action harms the trust others have in someone or something.
彼の行動は組織の信用を傷つけた。
His actions did a disservice to the organization's credibility.
There is no single Japanese word that directly corresponds to 'disservice'. Instead, use phrases that describe the specific harm or disadvantage caused. Avoid literal translations like 'ディスサービス', which are not used in Japanese.
Choose the expression based on whether the disservice is to others, to oneself, or to a reputation/cause. For general trouble or inconvenience, '迷惑をかける' is the safest choice.
Also used here to mean hindering a collective effort or cause, doing a disservice to the group's progress.
内部の対立が改革の足を引っ張っている。
Internal conflicts are doing a disservice to the reform efforts.