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.
融資を受けるには担保が必要です。
You need collateral to get a loan.
彼は家を担保に入れた。
He put up his house as collateral.
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.
その決定には付随的な問題がいくつかある。
There are several collateral issues with that decision.
Means 'secondary' or 'subsidiary'. Often used for collateral effects or benefits.
副次的な効果も期待できる。
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.
Literally 'secondary'. Used for collateral effects, damage, or consequences.
二次的な被害を最小限に抑える。
Minimize collateral damage.
Unintended civilian casualties or damage during military operations.
The airstrike caused collateral damage. · They tried to avoid 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).
軍は巻き添え被害を認めた。
The military acknowledged the collateral damage.
Literally 'civilian damage'. A more direct and transparent term, often used in reports.
民間人被害を避けるための措置を取った。
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.
付随的損害は避けられない場合もある。
Collateral damage may be unavoidable in some cases.
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).
彼は私の傍系親族です。
He is my collateral relative.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'relative not in the direct line'. Easier to understand in conversation than the technical term.
いとこは直系ではない親族です。
A cousin is a collateral 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.
担保として預金を差し入れる。
Deposit cash as collateral.
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.
その攻撃で多くの巻き添え被害が出た。
The attack caused a lot of collateral damage.
銀行は融資の担保を要求した。
The bank required collateral for the loan.
その政策の副次的な影響を考慮しなければならない。
We must consider the collateral effects of the policy.
彼は傍系の子孫としてその地所を相続した。
He inherited the estate as a collateral descendant.
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.
彼は抗争の巻き添えで死んだ。
He died as collateral damage in the feud.