Translation guide
Describes a poor crop yield, often due to weather, pests, or other factors. In Japanese, this is commonly expressed with specific nouns and verbs.
To say that the harvest was bad or the crop yield was low.
The most common and direct term for a bad harvest or crop failure. Used in news and daily conversation.
今年は凶作だった。
This year's harvest was bad.
凶作で米の値段が上がった。
The bad harvest caused rice prices to rise.
Also means poor harvest or crop failure, slightly less severe than 凶作. Commonly used.
不作の年が続いている。
We've had poor harvests for years.
A more descriptive phrase meaning 'the harvest is bad'. Can be used for any crop.
今年はじゃがいもの収穫が悪かった。
The potato harvest was bad this year.
To emphasize that the harvest failed completely, often due to a natural disaster.
Refers to famine or severe crop failure leading to food shortages. Stronger than 凶作.
長雨で飢饉になった。
The long rains caused a famine.
Means the harvest was completely destroyed. Used for total loss.
台風で収穫が全滅した。
The typhoon completely destroyed the harvest.
To talk about a bad harvest for a particular crop, often using the crop name.
Pattern to say a specific crop had a poor harvest. Replace [crop] with the crop name.
今年はみかんが不作だ。
The mandarin orange harvest is poor this year.
凶作 (きょうさく) implies a more severe crop failure than 不作 (ふさく). 不作 can simply mean a below-average yield, while 凶作 suggests a disaster-level failure.