Translation guide
How to express that someone or something is a burden in Japanese, covering emotional, practical, and social contexts.
Express that one's presence, needs, or actions cause emotional strain or inconvenience to others, often used in apologies or humble expressions.
Literally 'to cause trouble/annoyance'. The most common way to say you are being a burden to someone, emphasizing the inconvenience caused.
いつも迷惑をかけてごめんなさい。
I'm sorry for always being a burden.
I don't want to be a burden to him.
Literally 'to become a burden/load'. Used for both emotional and practical burdens, such as financial or caregiving strain.
子供に負担になりたくない。
I don't want to be a burden to my children.
費用が負担になっている。
The cost is becoming a burden.
Literally 'to become luggage'. A humble, somewhat self-deprecating way to say you are a burden, often used when you feel you are in the way.
こんなお荷物になってしまってすみません。
I'm sorry for being such a burden.
Literally 'to become a hindrance to one's feet'. Implies being a drag or impediment, often in a team or group setting.
私が足手まといになるかもしれない。
I might be a burden (hold you back).
Describe something that is physically heavy to carry or a responsibility that weighs on someone.
A noun meaning 'heavy load' or 'burden', used both literally and figuratively for responsibilities or emotional weight.
この仕事は重荷だ。
This job is a burden.
責任が重荷に感じられる。
The responsibility feels like a burden.
Also used for practical burdens like workload or expenses. See above.
この荷物は負担になる。
This luggage is a burden.
Noun meaning 'burden, load, strain'. Often used in compound phrases like 経済的負担 (financial burden).
Express the feeling of being a burden due to needing care or support, often used by elderly or ill individuals.
Specifically refers to becoming a caregiving burden.
家族に介護の負担になりたくない。
I don't want to be a care burden on my family.
Literally 'to take hands', meaning to require a lot of care or attention. Often used for children or dependent adults.
年を取ると手がかかるようになる。
As you get older, you become more of a burden (require more care).
Politely decline help or express reluctance to cause trouble, common in Japanese social interactions.
A polite way to say 'I will cause you trouble' or 'I will be a burden'. Often used in formal apologies or when declining assistance.
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。
I'm sorry to be a burden (cause you trouble).
ご迷惑をおかけするといけませんので。
I don't want to be a burden, so... (used when declining an offer).
Literally 'to become a hindrance/obstacle'. Used when you feel you are intruding or being in the way, e.g., visiting someone.
お邪魔になるかもしれませんが。
I might be a burden (intrude), but...
迷惑 (meiwaku) focuses on the trouble or annoyance caused to others, often in social contexts. 負担 (futan) emphasizes the weight or strain, whether emotional, physical, or financial. Use 迷惑 for apologies and social friction; use 負担 for tangible or long-term strain.
The English phrase 'be a burden' is often translated directly as 重荷になる or 負担になる, but in many casual apologies, 迷惑をかける is more natural. Using 重荷 in a light social context can sound overly dramatic.
遅れて迷惑をかけてごめん。
Sorry for being late and being a burden.
The financial burden is large.