Translation guide
Describes something that is not important, has no significant effect, or does not matter in the larger context. Japanese often expresses this through adjectives meaning 'trivial', 'unimportant', or through phrases that downplay significance.
To say that something is of little or no importance, often in a dismissive or reassuring way.
A common adjective meaning 'trivial' or 'minor'. Used for matters that are too small to worry about.
それは些細な問題だ。
That's an inconsequential problem.
Don't fight over inconsequential things.
Literally 'not worth taking up'. Means 'insignificant' or 'negligible'. Slightly more emphatic than 些細な.
彼の意見は取るに足らない。
His opinion is inconsequential.
A casual phrase meaning 'it doesn't matter' or 'I don't care'. Often used when something is considered inconsequential to the speaker.
そんなことはどうでもいい。
That kind of thing is inconsequential.
A phrase meaning 'it's not a big deal'. Used to downplay the importance of something.
そのミスは大したことではない。
That mistake is inconsequential.
To indicate that an action or event does not lead to any meaningful result or change.
Directly means 'has no influence/effect'. Used when something does not affect the outcome.
その変更は結果に影響がない。
That change is inconsequential to the result.
Means 'has no meaning/significance'. Emphasizes the lack of purpose or effect.
その議論は何の意味もなさなかった。
That discussion was inconsequential.
Referring to small, unimportant details that do not affect the main point.
A formal or literary term for 'trivial' or 'petty'. Often used in written contexts.
瑣末な点にこだわるな。
Don't get hung up on inconsequential points.
A four-character idiom meaning 'minor details' or 'nonessentials'. Literally 'branches and leaves, tips and nodes'.
枝葉末節にこだわらず本質を見ろ。
Don't focus on inconsequential details; look at the essence.
The English word 'inconsequential' is often used in formal or literary contexts. In everyday Japanese, it's more natural to use simpler phrases like 些細な or 大したことではない. Direct translations like 非結果的 (hiketsukateki) are not used.