Translation guide
The English word "false" can express untruth, incorrectness, artificiality, or disloyalty. This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for each meaning.
Expressing that a statement, claim, or information is not true.
Used for statements, reports, or claims that are deliberately untrue or fabricated. Often formal or written.
That is false information.
Formal term for falsehood, often used in legal or official contexts.
False declarations will be punished.
A straightforward way to say something is not true, literally 'not a fact'.
That rumor is false.
Means 'incorrect' or 'wrong', often used for factual errors.
That answer is false.
Describing something that is fake, imitation, or not real.
Common prefix meaning 'fake' or 'counterfeit', used for objects, documents, etc.
Beware of false branded goods.
Means 'artificial' or 'man-made', often for body parts or materials.
He uses false teeth.
Implies something is a fake or imitation, often with a nuance of being staged or not authentic.
That smile seems false.
Describing a person or behavior that is not faithful or honest.
Used in phrases like 'false alarm' or 'false start'.
English uses 'false' in many compound nouns (false teeth, false alarm, false friend). Japanese often uses specific words rather than a single equivalent. For example, 'false teeth' is 入れ歯 (いれば) or 人工の歯 (じんこうのは), not 偽の歯.
false teeth (dentures)
結局、空振りに終わった。
It turned out to be a false alarm.