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.
fatal mistake
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.
He suffered a fatal wound.
The accident was fatal.
Literally 'life-taker', a noun meaning something that causes death. Often used for mistakes or actions that prove fatal.
A formal phrase meaning 'to lead to death'. Used in medical or official contexts.
A technical term meaning 'lethal' or 'fatal', often used in compounds like 致死量 (lethal dose).
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.
That misjudgment was fatal to the project.
Means 'irreparable' or 'irreversible'. Used for fatal mistakes or damage that cannot be undone.
Means 'ruinous' or 'catastrophic'. Stronger than 致命的, implying total destruction.
Referring to something predetermined by fate, often in a literary or dramatic sense.
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.
The injury proved fatal.
致命傷 is a common compound meaning 'fatal wound'.
A fatal error occurred.
That mistake proved fatal.
The disease can be fatal.
He ingested a fatal dose of poison.
彼の計画には致命的な欠陥がある。
His plan has a fatal flaw.
He made a fatal mistake.
The policy had a fatal impact on the economy.
He accepted his fatal destiny.