Translation guide
Describes something believed to be a sign of bad luck or misfortune. In Japanese, this is often expressed through adjectives and set phrases related to unlucky signs.
To say that something is a bad omen or brings bad luck.
To label something as a harbinger of bad luck.
Literally 'omen of ill luck'. Used for signs or events that foretell misfortune.
黒猫は不吉の前兆だと考えられている。
A black cat is considered an ill-omened sign.
不吉な is a general adjective for 'ominous' and can describe feelings, dreams, or atmospheres. 縁起が悪い is specifically about superstitions and things believed to cause bad luck, like breaking a mirror or the number 4. Use 縁起が悪い when talking about cultural or personal superstitions.
不吉な沈黙が部屋を包んだ。
An ill-omened silence filled the room.
鏡を割るのは縁起が悪い。
Breaking a mirror is ill-omened.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'ill-omened' in all contexts. Using 不吉な or 縁起が悪い will cover most situations. Avoid trying to directly translate 'ill-omened' as a compound word; it will sound unnatural.
その不吉な船は二度と戻らなかった。
The ill-omened ship never returned.
ここでは朝にカラスを見るのは縁起が悪いとされている。
Seeing a crow in the morning is considered ill-omened here.
A very common phrase meaning 'unlucky' or 'of bad omen'. Used for objects, actions, or situations believed to bring bad luck.
夜に爪を切るのは縁起が悪いと言われている。
They say cutting your nails at night is ill-omened.
この数字は縁起が悪いとされている。
This number is considered ill-omened.
A more formal or literary term meaning 'ill-omened' or 'portentous'. Often used in written contexts.
凶兆の雲が空を覆った。
Ill-omened clouds covered the sky.
Means 'abominable' or 'ominous', often with a sense of something cursed or deeply unlucky. Stronger and more emotional than 不吉な.
忌まわしい出来事が続いた。
Ill-omened events continued to happen.
A noun meaning 'evil omen' or 'ill omen'. Often used in formal or literary descriptions.
それは戦争の凶兆だった。
It was an ill-omened sign of war.