Translation guide
The English word 'negligent' describes a failure to take proper care, often leading to harm or mistakes. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various adjectives, verbs, and set phrases that emphasize carelessness, neglect of duty, or lack of attention. The most common and versatile equivalent is 不注意な (fuchūi na), which broadly covers carelessness. For legal or formal contexts, 過失 (kashitsu) is used as a noun. Other options convey nuances like laziness, oversight, or willful neglect.
Describes a person or action that lacks proper attention or caution, leading to mistakes or accidents.
The most common and direct equivalent. It is a na-adjective meaning 'careless' or 'inattentive'. Suitable for everyday situations.
彼は不注意な運転で事故を起こした。
He caused an accident due to negligent driving.
不注意なミスが多すぎる。
There are too many careless mistakes.
Describes a momentary lapse of attention or an unintentional oversight. Often used for forgetfulness or absent-mindedness.
うっかりして電車を乗り過ごした。
I negligently missed my stop on the train.
Implies negligence due to laziness or neglect of duty. Stronger than 不注意, often used in work or responsibility contexts.
彼の怠慢な仕事ぶりに上司は怒った。
His boss got angry at his negligent work attitude.
Used in legal, business, or official contexts to indicate a breach of duty or failure to exercise reasonable care.
A noun meaning 'negligence' or 'fault' in legal and formal settings. Often used in phrases like 過失を犯す (commit negligence).
その事故は運転手の過失によるものだった。
The accident was due to the driver's negligence.
会社は過失を認めて謝罪した。
The company admitted negligence and apologized.
A formal legal term meaning 'breach of duty of care'. Used in court rulings or legal documents.
医師の注意義務違反が問われた。
The doctor's negligence (breach of duty of care) was questioned.
Focuses on failing to take care of something or someone one is responsible for, often over a period of time.
A verb meaning 'to neglect' or 'to be remiss' in performing a duty. Often used in the form 〜を怠る.
彼は注意を怠って大事故を招いた。
He was negligent in his attention and caused a major accident.
安全確認を怠ってはいけない。
You must not be negligent in safety checks.
Means to treat something as unimportant and neglect it. Implies a lack of proper care or attention.
彼は仕事をなおざりにして遊んでばかりいる。
He neglects his work and just plays around.
Describes extreme carelessness that shows a disregard for consequences, often used in serious contexts.
Means 'gross negligence'. A formal phrase used in legal or serious situations.
その事故は重大な過失によるものと判断された。
The accident was determined to be due to gross negligence.
Means 'reckless' or 'foolhardy'. Often used for actions that are dangerously negligent.
彼の無謀な運転は過失致死に問われた。
His reckless driving was charged as negligent manslaughter.
不注意 (fuchūi) is general carelessness, often unintentional. 怠慢 (taiman) implies laziness or neglect of duty, carrying a moral judgment. 過失 (kashitsu) is a formal/legal term for negligence, focusing on the result or fault rather than the attitude.
While 不注意な is common, Japanese often uses verbs like 怠る (okotaru) or phrases like 注意を怠る to express the concept naturally. Using a noun like 過失 may be more appropriate in formal contexts.