Translation guide
The concept of imbalance covers a lack of proportion, unequal distribution, or instability. This guide helps learners express various types of imbalance naturally in Japanese, from physical unsteadiness to social inequality.
Describing something physically unsteady, tilted, or not evenly distributed, such as a load, posture, or ecosystem.
A formal noun meaning 'imbalance' or 'disparity', often used for economic or physical distributions. Common in written and formal contexts.
貿易の不均衡が問題になっている。
The trade imbalance has become a problem.
Literally 'balance is bad', a common way to say something is off-balance or poorly balanced. Used for physical objects, compositions, or diets.
この絵はバランスが悪い。
This painting is imbalanced.
Means 'bias' or 'unevenness', often used for distribution, opinion, or physical leaning. Implies a tilt toward one side.
Means 'instability' or 'unsteadiness', focusing on lack of stability rather than unequal distribution. Used for physical objects, emotions, or situations.
Referring to unfair differences in wealth, power, opportunity, or representation between groups.
The standard term for 'disparity' or 'gap', especially in income, education, or social status. Widely used in news and discussions.
所得格差が拡大している。
Income imbalance is widening.
Means 'inequality' or 'unfairness', emphasizing lack of equal treatment or opportunity. Common in social justice contexts.
Also used for social/economic disparities, but more formal and often in statistical or academic contexts.
Means 'unfairness' or 'injustice', focusing on moral wrongness rather than just numerical imbalance. Used for systems or decisions.
この制度は不公正だ。
This system is imbalanced and unfair.
Describing a state of mind that is unsettled, moody, or lacking emotional equilibrium.
Commonly used for emotional instability, mood swings, or mental unsteadiness. Can describe a person or their state.
彼は情緒不安定だ。
He is emotionally imbalanced.
Literally 'lose mental balance', a natural way to say someone becomes mentally imbalanced or unstable.
ストレスで心のバランスを崩した。
Stress caused me to become mentally imbalanced.
Can be used metaphorically for emotional bias or one-sidedness, but less common for mental health.
Describing a disruption in the normal equilibrium of a system, such as market forces, biological systems, or mechanical functions.
The go-to term for systemic imbalances, especially in economics, ecology, or physics. Formal and precise.
需要と供給の不均衡が価格を押し上げた。
The imbalance between supply and demand pushed up prices.
Means 'equilibrium collapses', a natural way to describe a system losing its balance. Often used in economics or ecology.
生態系の均衡が崩れている。
The ecosystem's balance is disrupted.
Means 'disharmony' or 'lack of harmony', used for systems where parts don't work together smoothly. More about mismatch than numerical imbalance.
不均衡 is formal and often used in written, academic, or official contexts. アンバランス is a loanword that feels more casual and is common in everyday speech. For physical imbalance, アンバランス is usually more natural unless you're writing a report.
English often uses 'imbalance' as a noun, but Japanese may prefer verb phrases like バランスを崩す (lose balance) or 偏る (be biased). Don't try to force a noun form where a verb is more natural.
資源の配分に不均衡がある。
There is an imbalance in the distribution of resources.
彼女はホルモンバランスが崩れている。
She suffers from a hormonal imbalance.
A loanword from English, widely used in everyday speech for physical or abstract imbalance. Sounds natural in casual and semi-formal settings.
この荷物はアンバランスで持ちにくい。
This load is imbalanced and hard to carry.
栄養の偏りに気をつけてください。
Please be careful of nutritional imbalance.
その椅子は不安定で危ない。
That chair is imbalanced and dangerous.
教育の不平等をなくしたい。
We want to eliminate educational imbalance.
地域間の経済的不均衡が深刻だ。
The economic imbalance between regions is serious.
感情の偏りが激しい。
He has extreme emotional imbalance.
Used in business or technical contexts, but slightly less formal than 不均衡. Common in spoken explanations.
システムにアンバランスが生じている。
There is an imbalance in the system.
An imbalance arose within the team.