Translation guide
An expression used to say that someone deserves an unpleasant outcome, often because of their own foolish or bad behavior.
To tell someone that they got what they deserved, usually in a critical or mocking way.
A common, direct way to say 'It's your own fault' or 'You brought this on yourself.' Can be used in both casual and formal contexts.
遅刻したのか。自業自得だね。
You were late? Serves you right.
Literally 'That's a good feeling (for me).' Expresses schadenfreude. More emotional and less formal than 自業自得.
彼が失敗したって？いい気味だ。
He failed? Serves him right.
A very casual, often rude expression of 'Serves you right!' Used when you feel someone got the just desserts for their arrogance or misdeeds.
ざまあみろ！だから言っただろう。
Serves you right! I told you so.
Means 'It's divine punishment.' Used when someone's misfortune seems like a moral consequence, often in a more serious or dramatic tone.
あんなことをしたから天罰が下ったんだ。
He did such a thing, so it's divine punishment. (Serves him right.)
There is no direct translation of 'serves you right' that uses the verb 'serve'. Avoid literal translations like あなたに仕える (to serve you). Use the idiomatic expressions above.
あなたに仕える
to serve you (literal, incorrect for this meaning)
自業自得 is neutral and can be used in most situations. いい気味だ and ざまあみろ are very direct and can be offensive; use only with close friends or in very informal settings. 天罰だ is more dramatic and less commonly used in everyday speech.
Serves you right! (casual)