Translation guide
The English word 'inanimate' describes objects, things, or concepts that are not alive. In Japanese, there is no single adjective that perfectly matches all uses. Instead, you express the idea based on context: describing non-living things, grammatical distinctions, or lifelessness.
A stone is an inanimate object.
Means 'without life'. Used for things that lack life, often in a more descriptive or literary context.
an inanimate object
Plain negative form of 'to live'. Casual and straightforward, but can sound blunt. Use in informal contexts.
This doll is not alive.
Referring to the grammatical category of animacy, where nouns are classified as animate or inanimate, affecting verb forms or particles.
Describing something that seems dull, motionless, or lacking energy, like a performance or a person's expression.
Do not try to translate 'inanimate' as a single adjective in all cases. Japanese often uses phrases like 無生物の or 生命のない depending on context. Using 無生物 as an adjective directly (e.g., 無生物な) is unnatural.
Japanese grammar sometimes distinguishes between animate and inanimate subjects. For example, the verbs いる (for animate) and ある (for inanimate) are used for existence. Understanding this concept helps with natural expression.
'Desk' is an inanimate noun.
She sat with an inanimate expression.