Translation guide
Expresses the state of being physically unable to move, often due to fear, shock, or medical conditions. Japanese uses different verbs and expressions depending on the cause and context.
Describes a medical condition where a body part or the whole body cannot move.
General term for paralysis, used for both medical conditions and metaphorical numbness.
事故で足が麻痺した。
My legs became paralyzed due to an accident.
Describes the ongoing state of being paralyzed.
彼は下半身が麻痺している。
He is paralyzed from the waist down.
Expresses being unable to move due to intense fear, surprise, or emotional shock.
Literally 'become unable to move from fear'. A natural way to describe being paralyzed by fear.
恐怖で動けなくなった。
I was paralyzed with fear.
Refers to sleep paralysis, but used metaphorically to mean being frozen in place as if by a supernatural force.
突然の出来事に、金縛りにあったように動けなかった。
Due to the sudden event, I was paralyzed and couldn't move.
Means to stiffen or become rigid, often from tension or fear. More literary.
彼女は恐怖で硬直した。
She stiffened with fear.
Describes a situation where a system, organization, or process comes to a halt.
Also used metaphorically for systems, traffic, or functions that stop working.
大雪で交通が麻痺した。
Traffic was paralyzed by heavy snow.
Literally 'become unable to function'. A straightforward way to say a system is paralyzed.
システムが機能しなくなった。
The system became paralyzed.
The English phrase 'be paralyzed' is often translated as 麻痺する, but in casual conversation about fear, it's more natural to use 動けなくなる (become unable to move) or 固まる (freeze up).