Translation guide
Expresses that someone sustains an injury. Japanese uses different verbs depending on whether the injury is accidental or intentional, and whether the focus is on the resulting state or the action. The most common and natural way is to use the intransitive verb けがをする, which literally means 'to do an injury' but is the standard expression for 'to be/get injured'.
彼は事故でけがをした。
He got injured in an accident.
To say that someone is injured or gets injured, typically in an accident or mishap.
The most common and neutral way to say 'be injured' or 'get injured'. It can be used for any kind of physical injury, from minor to serious. The verb する is transitive, but the phrase as a whole is intransitive in meaning.
昨日、交通事故でけがをしました。
I was injured in a traffic accident yesterday.
彼はサッカーの試合でけがをした。
He got injured during the soccer match.
A more formal or written term for 'be injured'. Often used in news reports or official contexts.
その事故で3人が負傷した。
Three people were injured in the accident.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be wounded' or 'to be hurt', both physically and emotionally. For physical injury, it often implies a cut or visible wound. More commonly used for emotional hurt.
転んでひざが傷ついた。
I fell and hurt my knee.
To express that someone is injured as a result of another person's deliberate action, such as in an attack or fight.
Causative-passive form of けがをする, meaning 'to be made to be injured' or 'to be injured by someone'. This emphasizes that the injury was caused by another person.
彼は暴漢にけがをさせられた。
He was injured by a thug.
Passive form of 傷つける (to injure/wound). Clearly indicates that someone else caused the injury.
彼女はナイフで傷つけられた。
She was injured with a knife.
To describe the state of being injured, often as a result of a past event.
The ている form of けがをする, indicating the state of being injured. Use this to say someone is currently injured.
彼は今、足にけがをしている。
He is currently injured in his leg.
Formal/written equivalent of けがをしている, used in reports.
負傷している乗客は病院に運ばれた。
The injured passengers were taken to the hospital.
English 'be injured' is passive, but Japanese often uses the active phrase けがをする (literally 'do an injury'). Do not try to directly translate the passive voice; it will sound unnatural. Use けがをする for most cases.
けがをしましたか？
Are you injured?
けが (怪我) is a general term for injury, often internal or external, from accidents. 傷 (きず) specifically refers to a wound, cut, or visible injury. Use けが for 'be injured' in general; use 傷 for 'wound'.
その傷は深い。
That wound is deep.