Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the idea of causing trouble in Japanese, from everyday apologies to serious disruptions.
To express causing inconvenience, annoyance, or minor trouble to someone.
The most common and natural way to say 'cause trouble' in the sense of bothering or inconveniencing someone. Literally 'to hang/sprinkle annoyance'.
ご迷惑をおかけしてすみません。
I'm sorry for causing you trouble.
He's always causing trouble for those around him.
Similar to 迷惑をかける, but implies causing someone extra work or a hassle. Often used when you feel you've put someone out.
面倒をかけてごめんね。
Sorry for causing you trouble (making you go out of your way).
A more formal expression meaning to cause someone trouble by requiring their time and effort. Often used in business or polite requests.
お手数をおかけしますが、よろしくお願いします。
I'm sorry to cause you trouble, but I appreciate your help.
To express causing significant problems, disruptions, or conflicts.
Literally 'to cause a problem'. Used for a wide range of issues, from minor to serious.
彼は学校で問題を起こした。
He caused trouble at school.
そんなことをしたら問題を起こすよ。
If you do that, you'll cause trouble.
A loanword from English 'trouble', often used for conflicts, disputes, or technical problems.
彼はよく人間関係のトラブルを起こす。
He often causes trouble in relationships.
Specifically means to cause a disturbance, commotion, or uproar. Often implies public disruption.
酔っ払いが店で騒ぎを起こした。
A drunk caused trouble (a disturbance) in the store.
To express getting oneself into trouble or a difficult situation.
Means to end up in a troublesome situation, often due to one's own actions. Literally 'become a troublesome thing'.
嘘をつくと面倒なことになるよ。
If you lie, you'll cause trouble for yourself.
Similar to 面倒なことになる, but implies a more complicated or messy situation. Often used in casual speech.
余計なことを言うとややこしいことになる。
If you say unnecessary things, you'll cause trouble (make things complicated).
To express deliberately causing trouble, often in a playful or malicious way.
Means to play a prank or do mischief. Can range from harmless fun to malicious acts.
子供がいたずらをして先生を困らせた。
The child caused trouble (played a prank) and annoyed the teacher.
A colloquial way to say 'do bad things' or 'cause mischief'. Often used for minor troublemaking.
あの子はよく悪さをする。
That kid is always causing trouble (misbehaving).
迷惑 (meiwaku) is about bothering or annoying someone. 面倒 (mendou) is about causing extra work or hassle. 問題 (mondai) is a more general 'problem' and can be serious. Choose based on the nature of the trouble.
Avoid directly translating 'cause' as 起こす (okosu) in all cases. While 問題を起こす is fine, 迷惑を起こす is unnatural. Use 迷惑をかける instead.