Translation guide
How to express that something or someone is not present, absent, or lost in Japanese. Covers physical absence, missing items, missing people, and missing parts.
To say that someone or something is not here/there, is absent from a place.
Used for animate beings (people, animals). The plain form of いません. Indicates that someone is not present.
Used for inanimate objects. Indicates that something is not there or is missing.
財布がない。
My wallet is missing.
Formal verb meaning 'to be absent' (from a meeting, class, etc.). Used for scheduled events.
彼は会議を欠席した。
He was absent from the meeting.
Means 'to come out' or 'to be omitted'. Can be used when something is missing from a set or list.
To express that an object is lost, has disappeared, or is unaccounted for.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be lost', 'to disappear'. Indicates that something is gone.
鍵がなくなった。
My keys are missing.
お金がなくなっている。
The money is missing.
Negative potential form of 見つける (to find). Means 'cannot be found'.
探したけど、見つからない。
I looked for it, but it's missing.
Formal term for 'missing' (person or object), often used in news or official contexts.
To say that something is incomplete because a piece is absent.
From 欠ける (to be chipped/lacking). Indicates that a part is missing or lacking.
このパズルはピースが一つ欠けている。
This puzzle is missing one piece.
書類にページが欠けている。
The document is missing a page.
Means 'insufficient' or 'not enough'. Can be used when a required number or amount is missing.
部品が一つ足りない。
One part is missing.
Similar to 欠けている, but often used for omissions in lists, text, or sequences.
彼の名前がリストから抜けている。
His name is missing from the list.
To say that someone is missing in a serious context (disaster, accident, etc.).
Standard term for a missing person. Used in news, police reports, etc.
地震で多くの人が行方不明になっている。
Many people are missing due to the earthquake.
Means 'whereabouts unknown'. Slightly less formal than 行方不明, but still used in serious contexts.
彼は消息不明だ。
He is missing.
Use いない for living things (people, animals) and ない for inanimate objects. Using ない for a person can sound rude or dehumanizing.
Do not directly translate 'be missing' as ミッシングしている or similar. Use the appropriate Japanese verb based on context.
本が机の上にない。
The book is not on the desk.
His name is missing from the roster.
その船は行方不明になった。
The ship went missing.