Translation guide
The English word "false" can express untruth, incorrectness, artificiality, or disloyalty. This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for each meaning.
Expressing that a statement, claim, or information is not true.
Used for statements, reports, or claims that are deliberately untrue or fabricated. Often formal or written.
それは偽りの情報です。
That is false information.
Formal term for falsehood, often used in legal or official contexts.
虚偽の申告は罰せられます。
False declarations will be punished.
A straightforward way to say something is not true, literally 'not a fact'.
その噂は事実ではない。
That rumor is false.
Means 'incorrect' or 'wrong', often used for factual errors.
その答えは間違っている。
That answer is false.
Describing something that is fake, imitation, or not real.
Common prefix meaning 'fake' or 'counterfeit', used for objects, documents, etc.
偽のブランド品に注意。
Beware of false branded goods.
Means 'artificial' or 'man-made', often for body parts or materials.
彼は人工の歯を使っている。
He uses false teeth.
Implies something is a fake or imitation, often with a nuance of being staged or not authentic.
その笑顔は作り物のようだ。
That smile seems false.
Describing a person or behavior that is not faithful or honest.
Means 'unfaithful' or 'disloyal', often used for personal relationships.
彼は不実な友人だった。
He was a false friend.
Can also describe deceitful behavior or appearances.
偽りの約束をしないで。
Don't make false promises.
Used in phrases like 'false alarm' or 'false start'.
Means 'false report' or 'false alarm', often for news or warnings.
火災警報は誤報だった。
The fire alarm was false.
Literally 'swing and miss', used metaphorically for a false alarm or wasted effort.
English uses 'false' in many compound nouns (false teeth, false alarm, false friend). Japanese often uses specific words rather than a single equivalent. For example, 'false teeth' is 入れ歯 (いれば) or 人工の歯 (じんこうのは), not 偽の歯.
入れ歯
false teeth (dentures)
結局、空振りに終わった。
It turned out to be a false alarm.