Translation guide
Describes something destined to have an unhappy or disastrous outcome. In Japanese, this is expressed through adjectives, compound nouns, and set phrases that convey misfortune, bad luck, or an unlucky destiny.
To say that someone or something is ill-fated, destined for misfortune, or unlucky.
A common and straightforward adjective meaning 'unlucky' or 'unfortunate'. It can describe people, events, or outcomes.
彼は不運な人生を送った。
He led an ill-fated life.
Many people died in the ill-fated accident.
A more literary or poetic term meaning 'unhappy' or 'ill-fated', often used for people, especially in a tragic or romantic sense.
薄幸な少女の物語。
The story of an ill-fated girl.
An archaic or formal adjective meaning 'ill-fated' or 'unfortunate', often used in historical or literary contexts.
数奇な運命をたどる。
To follow an ill-fated destiny.
To say that a romantic relationship or bond is ill-fated or star-crossed.
A noun meaning 'tragic love' or 'ill-fated love'. Often used in titles or descriptions of stories.
それは悲恋の物語だった。
It was a tale of ill-fated love.
Literally 'unforgivable love', used for a love that is doomed due to social norms, circumstances, or fate.
二人の許されない恋は悲劇に終わった。
Their ill-fated love ended in tragedy.
To say that an undertaking was ill-fated or destined to fail.
A phrase meaning 'destined to fail'. It clearly conveys that something was ill-fated from the beginning.
その計画は失敗する運命にあった。
The plan was ill-fated from the start.
A more conversational way to say 'it was destined to go wrong from the beginning'.
あの事業は最初からうまくいかない運命だった。
That venture was ill-fated from the start.
To say that a specific time or event was ill-fated.
A noun meaning 'unlucky day' or 'ill-fated day', often used in calendars or superstitions.
今日は凶日だから大事なことはしない。
Today is an ill-fated day, so I won't do anything important.
A common phrase meaning 'unlucky' or 'having bad luck', used to describe a moment or event.
運の悪いことに、その日は大雨だった。
As ill fate would have it, it rained heavily that day.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'ill-fated' in all contexts. Instead, choose an expression based on what is being described (person, love, plan, day, etc.). Using a direct translation like '悪い運命の' (warui unmei no) is unnatural.