Translation guide
The act of deliberately not paying attention to someone or something, or pretending not to notice. In Japanese, this is expressed through various verbs and phrases that convey different nuances, from simply overlooking something to actively shunning someone.
To intentionally disregard someone, often in a social context, such as giving the silent treatment or snubbing.
The most common and direct translation for 'ignoring' a person. It implies a conscious decision to disregard someone's presence or communication.
彼は私を完全に無視した。
He completely ignored me.
She is ignoring my messages.
Slang term for ignoring someone, often used among younger people. It can imply a more pointed or rude form of ignoring.
あいつ、俺のことシカトしてる。
That guy is totally ignoring me.
To pretend not to know or notice someone; feigning ignorance. Often used when someone deliberately avoids acknowledging another person.
彼は私を見ても知らんぷりをした。
He pretended not to see me.
Literally 'not make someone a partner', meaning to refuse to engage with someone, to not give them the time of day.
彼は私の意見を全く相手にしなかった。
He didn't pay any attention to my opinion.
To ignore a rule, fact, problem, or piece of information, often implying neglect or willful blindness.
Also used for ignoring non-person entities like rules, warnings, or facts.
彼は交通ルールを無視した。
He ignored the traffic rules.
その事実を無視してはいけない。
You must not ignore that fact.
To overlook, miss, or let something pass. Often implies failing to notice or deliberately not addressing something, like a mistake or opportunity.
Can be used for ignoring physical sensations or needs.
空腹を無視して仕事を続けた。
I ignored my hunger and continued working.
To block, mute, or otherwise filter out someone's communication, especially in digital contexts.
To block someone on social media or messaging apps, preventing them from contacting you.
嫌なコメントをする人をブロックした。
I blocked the person who leaves nasty comments.
To mute someone, so you don't see their posts or messages without blocking them entirely.
うるさいから、あのグループをミュートした。
It was annoying, so I muted that group.
English 'ignoring' cannot be directly translated as a single gerund in many Japanese sentences. Use the appropriate verb phrase depending on the context. For example, 'He is ignoring me' is not 「彼は私を無視している」 but rather 「彼は私を無視している」 (which is correct, but note the structure). The continuous form is often used.
無視する implies a deliberate act of ignoring, while 見逃す often implies letting something pass or failing to notice, sometimes with a nuance of forgiveness or negligence. 見逃す can also mean 'to miss' (a chance, a detail).
彼のミスを見逃してあげた。
I overlooked his mistake (let it slide).