Translation guide
The concept of impiety in Japanese is expressed through words describing irreverence, disrespect toward the sacred, or lack of filial piety. The most common terms are 不敬 (disrespect toward gods, emperors, or superiors) and 不信心 (lack of religious faith).
Expressing irreverence, disrespect, or lack of piety toward deities, religious practices, or sacred objects.
General term for disrespect or irreverence, especially toward gods, the emperor, or sacred things. Can be used in both religious and secular contexts of showing lack of proper respect.
Irreverent remarks about the gods are not tolerated.
His attitude is impious.
Lack of religious faith or piety; impiety in the sense of not believing or not being devout. Often used in contrast with 信心 (piety).
Irreligious people don't go to shrines.
Blasphemy or profanation; a stronger term implying active desecration or sacrilege, not just lack of respect.
An act of blasphemy against God.
Insolence, arrogance, often implying impiety through haughty disregard for authority or the divine. More literary.
To blaspheme the gods with an insolent attitude.
Expressing impiety as failure to honor parents, elders, or ancestors, a concept deeply rooted in Confucian and Japanese tradition.
Lack of filial piety; undutifulness toward parents or ancestors. This is the standard term for impiety in a familial context.
Not taking care of your parents is unfilial.
He was called an unfilial son.
Specifically being unfilial to one's parents; a more colloquial and direct term than 不孝.
An unfilial person; a person who fails in their duties to parents or ancestors. Often used as a label or insult.
Expressing impiety as a broader irreverence toward established norms, authority figures, or cultural traditions.
Also used for disrespect toward superiors, the emperor, or national symbols. Carries a strong sense of violating expected reverence.
The crime of lèse-majesté against the Emperor.
Insolence or arrogance toward authority; implies a haughty impiety. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
不敬 (ふけい) focuses on disrespectful actions or attitudes toward sacred or highly respected entities, while 不信心 (ふしんじん) refers to a lack of religious faith or piety. 不敬 can be used in secular contexts (e.g., disrespect toward the emperor), whereas 不信心 is specifically about religious belief.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all nuances of 'impiety.' Choose the term based on the specific context: religious irreverence (不敬, 冒涜), lack of faith (不信心), or unfilial behavior (不孝). Using the wrong term can sound unnatural or overly strong.
An unfilial son.
あんな不孝者は見たことがない。
I've never seen such an unfilial person.
An insolent attitude toward one's superior.