Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing a 'slight wound' depends on the type and severity of the injury. Common terms range from general words for 'injury' to specific ones for cuts, scratches, or bruises. The most natural choice often involves using a general injury word with an adjective meaning 'light' or 'minor'.
To refer to any kind of slight wound or minor injury in a general sense.
The most common and natural way to say 'slight wound' or 'minor injury'. けが means injury, and 軽い means light or minor.
転んで軽いけがをした。
I fell and got a slight wound.
Fortunately, it was just a minor injury.
A more formal or written term for 'minor injury'. Often used in news reports or official contexts.
事故で3人が軽傷を負った。
Three people sustained minor injuries in the accident.
Literally 'grazing wound', used for a very slight scratch or scrape, like a graze. Implies the injury barely touched the skin.
ちょっと転んだけど、かすり傷だよ。
I fell a bit, but it's just a scratch.
To describe a slight wound that is specifically a cut or scratch.
A cut, typically from a sharp object. For a slight cut, you can add 軽い (light) or 小さな (small).
紙で指に小さな切り傷ができた。
I got a small cut on my finger from the paper.
A scratch or abrasion, like from scraping against a rough surface. Common for minor wounds from falls.
A scratch from claws or nails, like from a cat or a person.
To refer to a slight wound that is a bruise, without broken skin.
A bruise. For a slight bruise, you can say 軽いあざ or 小さなあざ.
ぶつけて腕に軽いあざができた。
I bumped my arm and got a slight bruise.
A contusion or bruise, often used in medical or formal contexts. 軽い打撲 means a minor contusion.
To emphasize that the wound is very slight, almost insignificant.
Literally 'about the level of a scratch', used to downplay an injury as very minor.
大丈夫、かすり傷程度だよ。
It's fine, it's just a scratch.
A common phrase meaning 'it's nothing serious' or 'it's no big deal'. Often used to reassure someone about a minor injury.
このくらいの傷、大したことないよ。
A wound like this is nothing serious.
けが (injury) is a general term for physical harm, often used for accidents. 傷 (きず) refers more specifically to a wound or cut on the skin. For slight wounds, both can be used, but 軽いけが is the most common phrase for a minor injury overall, while 軽い傷 is also possible but slightly less common.
Directly translating 'slight wound' as わずかな傷 or 少しの傷 is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural. Instead, use the common collocations like 軽いけが or specific wound types with 軽い/小さな.
✕ わずかな傷を負った。
(Unnatural) I suffered a slight wound.
○ 軽いけがをした。
I got a minor injury.
I fell and got a scratch on my knee.
猫に引っかき傷をつけられた。
I got a scratch from the cat.
It's a minor contusion, so it will heal quickly.