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.
すみません、道に迷ってしまいました。
Excuse me, I'm lost.
彼はよく道に迷う。
He often gets 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.
彼はゲームに夢中になっている。
He is lost in the game.
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.
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.
デパートで迷子になってしまった。
I got lost in the department store.
迷子にならないように手をつないでね。
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.
私は方向音痴だから、すぐ道に迷う。
I have no sense of direction, so I get lost easily.
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.
彼は研究に没頭している。
He is lost in his research.
To be lost in thought. Literally 'doing thinking things'.
彼女は考え事をしていて、電車を乗り過ごした。
She was lost in thought and missed her train stop.
財布がなくなった。
My wallet is lost.
鍵をなくしてしまった。
I've lost my keys.
Formal term for losing something, often used in official contexts like reporting a lost item.
パスポートを紛失しました。
I have lost my passport.
To go missing, to be unaccounted for. Used for people or important items that cannot be found.
彼は山で行方不明になった。
He went missing in the mountains.