Translation guide
The English phrase "be lost" can refer to being physically lost, losing one's way, or being absorbed in something. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these situations.
To not know where you are or how to get to your destination.
The most common way to say you are lost. Literally 'lose the way'. Use when you don't know where you are or which way to go.
Excuse me, I'm lost.
To be so absorbed in something that you lose awareness of your surroundings.
To be engrossed or absorbed in something. Replace 〜 with the activity or thing.
To be unable to find something.
To lose something. This is the transitive verb; the thing lost is the object. For 'be lost', use the passive or intransitive form.
The literal translation 「私は失われている」 is unnatural. Use 「道に迷っています」 or 「迷子になっています」 instead.
He often gets lost.
Literally 'become a lost child'. Used for people, especially children, who are lost or separated from their group. Can also be used for adults in a slightly self-deprecating way.
I got lost in the department store.
Hold hands so you don't get lost.
Describes a person who has a poor sense of direction. Not a temporary state of being lost, but a characteristic.
I have no sense of direction, so I get lost easily.
He is lost in the game.
She was lost in her book and didn't notice me.
To be immersed or absorbed in something, often with a nuance of dedication. Slightly more formal than 夢中になる.
He is lost in his research.
To be lost in thought. Literally 'doing thinking things'.
She was lost in thought and missed her train stop.
My wallet is lost.
I've lost my keys.
Formal term for losing something, often used in official contexts like reporting a lost item.
I have lost my passport.
To go missing, to be unaccounted for. Used for people or important items that cannot be found.
He went missing in the mountains.