Translation guide
The English word "fatal" primarily means causing death or leading to failure. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese, from direct adjectives to common phrases and warnings.
Describing an injury, accident, or event that results in death.
The most direct equivalent for 'fatal', meaning 'deadly' or 'mortal'. Used for injuries, mistakes, or flaws that lead to death or ruin.
彼は致命的な傷を負った。
He suffered a fatal wound.
その事故は致命的だった。
The accident was fatal.
Literally 'life-taker', a noun meaning something that causes death. Often used for mistakes or actions that prove fatal.
そのミスが命取りになった。
That mistake proved fatal.
A formal phrase meaning 'to lead to death'. Used in medical or official contexts.
その病気は死に至ることがある。
The disease can be fatal.
A technical term meaning 'lethal' or 'fatal', often used in compounds like 致死量 (lethal dose).
致死量の毒を摂取した。
He ingested a fatal dose of poison.
Describing a mistake, flaw, or event that leads to disastrous failure, not necessarily death.
Also used metaphorically for non-lethal but disastrous outcomes, like a fatal error or fatal flaw.
その判断ミスはプロジェクトにとって致命的だった。
That misjudgment was fatal to the project.
彼の計画には致命的な欠陥がある。
His plan has a fatal flaw.
Means 'irreparable' or 'irreversible'. Used for fatal mistakes or damage that cannot be undone.
彼は取り返しのつかないミスを犯した。
He made a fatal mistake.
Means 'ruinous' or 'catastrophic'. Stronger than 致命的, implying total destruction.
その政策は経済に破滅的な影響を与えた。
The policy had a fatal impact on the economy.
Referring to something predetermined by fate, often in a literary or dramatic sense.
Means 'fated' or 'destined'. Used for encounters, events, or outcomes that seem controlled by fate.
それは運命的な出会いだった。
It was a fatal encounter.
Similar to 運命的 but with a stronger nuance of unavoidable, often tragic destiny.
The English 'fatal' is not the same as 'fate'. In Japanese, 運命 (fate) is a noun, while 致命的 (fatal) is an adjective. Use 運命的 only for 'fateful' encounters, not for deadly accidents.
致命的 is an adjective and more common in both literal and figurative senses. 命取り is a noun and often used in the phrase 命取りになる (to prove fatal). It sounds slightly more colloquial and dramatic.
致命的なエラーが発生しました。
A fatal error occurred.
He accepted his fatal destiny.