Translation guide
A person, thing, or situation causing inconvenience or annoyance. Japanese expressions vary by what kind of nuisance it is and who is affected.
Describing someone who bothers others, gets in the way, or causes trouble.
General term for a person who causes trouble or inconvenience to others. '迷惑' means annoyance or trouble.
彼はいつも大声で話す迷惑な人だ。
He's a nuisance, always talking loudly.
A burdensome person, a dependent who causes trouble. Often used for someone who is a drain on resources or a constant bother.
彼は家族にとって厄介者だ。
He's a nuisance to his family.
Literally 'interrupting bug'. A playful or slightly critical term for someone who intrudes or gets in the way, like an uninvited guest.
デート中にお邪魔虫が来た。
A nuisance showed up during our date.
Describing an object, event, or circumstance that causes inconvenience or annoyance.
A noun meaning trouble, annoyance, or inconvenience. Often used in phrases like 'cause nuisance' (迷惑をかける).
騒音は近所迷惑だ。
The noise is a nuisance to the neighborhood.
A troublesome matter or thing. '厄介' means troublesome, burdensome.
この書類手続きは本当に厄介なことだ。
This paperwork is a real nuisance.
Trouble, bother, hassle. Often used for tasks that are tedious or annoying.
Something annoying, troublesome, or bothersome. More formal/literary.
細かい規則は煩わしいことだ。
Petty rules are a nuisance.
Expressing the action of being a nuisance or causing trouble.
To cause trouble or inconvenience to someone. Very common phrase.
ご迷惑をおかけしてすみません。
I'm sorry for causing a nuisance.
To disturb, interrupt, or get in the way. Often used when physically obstructing or interrupting someone's activity.
仕事の邪魔をしないでください。
Please don't be a nuisance while I'm working.
To cause someone to take extra time or effort; to put someone out. Polite expression.
お手間を取らせて申し訳ありません。
I'm sorry to be a nuisance (to take up your time).
Referring to a nuisance in a legal or public context, such as noise, pollution, or obstruction.
Public nuisance, pollution, environmental damage. Used for industrial pollution, noise, etc.
工場の騒音は公害だ。
The factory noise is a public nuisance.
迷惑 (meiwaku) is about causing trouble or annoyance to others, often emotionally or socially. 邪魔 (jama) is about physically getting in the way or interrupting an activity. Use 迷惑 for general nuisance, 邪魔 for obstruction.
大きな音は迷惑です。
Loud noise is a nuisance.
その箱が邪魔です。
That box is in the way (a nuisance).
The English word 'nuisance' covers many situations, but Japanese uses different words depending on whether it's a person, thing, action, or legal issue. Don't try to use one word for all cases.
彼は本当に迷惑な人だ。
He's such a nuisance.
この雨は厄介だ。
This rain is a nuisance.
ご迷惑をおかけしてすみません。
Sorry to be a nuisance.
毎日の掃除は面倒だ。
Daily cleaning is a nuisance.
Nuisance behavior, acts that cause annoyance to others. Often used in rules or legal contexts.
公園での迷惑行為は禁止されています。
Nuisance behavior in the park is prohibited.