Translation guide
The English word "collateral" has several distinct meanings: a financial asset pledged against a loan, something secondary or accompanying, and a family relationship through a common ancestor. This guide covers the most common ways to express these concepts in Japanese, from formal financial terms to everyday phrases.
An asset pledged as security for repayment of a loan.
The standard term for collateral in banking and legal contexts. Used for both the concept and the specific asset.
You need collateral to get a loan.
Specifically refers to a mortgage or pledge of real property. Often used in legal contexts for real estate collateral.
Collateral for a pawnshop loan; an item pawned. Informal and somewhat dated.
Something that is additional, subordinate, or happening as a side effect.
An adjective meaning 'incidental' or 'attendant'. Used for collateral events, issues, or effects.
Unintended civilian casualties or damage during military operations.
The airstrike caused collateral damage. · They tried to avoid collateral damage.
A relative descended from the same ancestor but not in a direct line (e.g., cousin, uncle).
Refers to a collateral line of descent. Used in legal and genealogical contexts. Often combined with 親族 (relative).
担保 is the general term for collateral, covering any asset (cash, securities, property). 抵当 specifically refers to a mortgage or pledge of real estate. In everyday banking, 担保 is sufficient; 抵当 is used in legal documents or when emphasizing real property.
Deposit cash as collateral.
The bank required collateral for the loan.
He put up his house as collateral.
この土地には抵当権が設定されている。
A mortgage has been placed on this land.
I borrowed money using my watch as collateral.
There are several collateral issues with that decision.
Means 'secondary' or 'subsidiary'. Often used for collateral effects or benefits.
We can also expect collateral benefits.
Refers to being caught up in something unintended, like collateral damage. Often used in the phrase 巻き添えを食う (to get caught in the crossfire).
Primarily used for people becoming unintended victims, not for abstract side effects.
He died as collateral damage in the feud.
Literally 'secondary'. Used for collateral effects, damage, or consequences.
Minimize collateral damage.
The standard translation for 'collateral damage' in news and military contexts. Combines 巻き添え (getting caught up) and 被害 (damage).
The military acknowledged the collateral damage.
Literally 'civilian damage'. A more direct and transparent term, often used in reports.
They took measures to avoid collateral damage.
A literal translation of 'collateral damage', used in some legal or military documents, but less common in everyday news.
Collateral damage may be unavoidable in some cases.
He is my collateral relative.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'relative not in the direct line'. Easier to understand in conversation than the technical term.
A cousin is a collateral relative.
抵当権を設定する。
Establish a mortgage.
The literal translation 付随的損害 exists but sounds stiff and bureaucratic. In news and everyday speech, 巻き添え被害 or 民間人被害 are much more natural. Using 付随的損害 may sound like you are reading a legal document.
The attack caused a lot of collateral damage.
We must consider the collateral effects of the policy.
He inherited the estate as a collateral descendant.