Translation guide
The state of being unable to see, or the metaphorical lack of awareness or understanding.
The condition of being unable to see due to physical or medical reasons.
The most common and neutral term for loss of eyesight, often used in medical or formal contexts.
He lost his sight in an accident.
The cause of blindness was diabetes.
Literally 'blind eyes', can refer to physical blindness but often carries a literary or metaphorical nuance. Less clinical than 失明.
A blind pianist performed.
Visual impairment; a broader, more formal term that includes partial sight loss. Used in official and medical contexts.
There are tactile paving blocks for visually impaired people.
A bound morpheme meaning 'blind', used in compounds like 盲人 (blind person) or 盲学校 (school for the blind). Not used alone.
A guide dog is helping him.
Lack of awareness, understanding, or being oblivious to something obvious.
Commonly used metaphorically to describe being blind to facts, love, or one's own faults.
He is blind to his own faults.
Literally 'eyes become cloudy', used figuratively for being blinded by emotions or losing clear judgment.
I was blinded by anger.
To pretend not to see; willful blindness or turning a blind eye.
He turned a blind eye to the bullying.
Ignorance; lack of knowledge. Not exactly 'blindness' but can overlap when meaning unawareness.
Momentary inability to see, such as from bright light or dizziness.
Inability to distinguish certain colors.
Difficulty seeing in low light.
失明 is the standard medical term for loss of sight, often used in news and formal contexts. 盲目 can be physical but is more literary and frequently used metaphorically (e.g., 愛は盲目). For general 'blindness' as a condition, 失明 is safer.
He was saved from the risk of blindness.
He is blind to power.
English 'blindness' is often used metaphorically (e.g., 'blindness to injustice'). Direct translation as 失明 would be incorrect. Use 盲目 or phrases like 見て見ぬふりをする instead.
Love is blind.
That is a mistake born of ignorance.
Color vision deficiency; a more formal and medically accurate term.
Color vision deficiency is more common in men.
I have night blindness and can't see well in the dark.