Translation guide
A hoax is a deliberate deception, often intended to trick people or as a joke. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is でっち上げ, but other words like いたずら or 偽情報 are used depending on the nature of the hoax.
To refer to a made-up story, false news, or a deceptive claim intended to mislead people.
The most direct and common translation for 'hoax'. It implies something completely fabricated, often with malicious intent or as a prank.
That news was a hoax.
He fabricated a kidnapping hoax.
Literally 'false information'. Used for hoaxes that spread misinformation, especially in media or online contexts. More formal than でっち上げ.
False information was spread on social media.
Slang for false information or a fake story, often used in journalism or online. Casual and somewhat rough.
That's a hoax, you know.
To refer to a hoax that is meant as a joke or to trick someone in a playful way, not necessarily malicious.
To refer to a hoax that is designed to deceive people for financial gain or other malicious purposes.
To refer to a hoax involving a fake threat, such as a bomb scare, that causes panic or disruption.
でっち上げ emphasizes fabrication, often of a story or claim. いたずら is a prank or mischief, usually harmless. 詐欺 is fraud, involving criminal deception for gain. Choose based on the intent and severity of the hoax.
The UFO sighting story was a hoax.
I made a prank call to my friend.
He was arrested for fraud.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all nuances of 'hoax'. Avoid using ホークス (which means 'hawks') or other katakana approximations. Use context-appropriate terms instead.
悪戯はやめなさい。
Stop playing pranks.
He fell for a hoax/swindle.
There were several hoax fire reports.