Translation guide
The English adverb "indiscriminately" describes doing something without careful selection, distinction, or judgment. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various adverbs, phrases, and grammatical patterns that convey randomness, lack of discrimination, or doing something to everything/everyone equally.
Expressing that an action is applied to all things or people without making any distinctions.
The most direct equivalent, meaning 'without discrimination' or 'indiscriminately'. Often used in negative contexts like attacks or treatment.
テロリストは無差別に市民を攻撃した。
The terrorists attacked civilians indiscriminately.
Literally 'as one's hand touches', meaning doing something to whatever one comes across, without selection. Implies a haphazard, random approach.
彼は手当たり次第に本を読んだ。
He read books indiscriminately, whatever he could get his hands on.
Means 'without distinguishing' or 'without regard for differences'. Often used for actions done without considering the nature of the target.
彼は見境なくお金を使った。
He spent money indiscriminately.
A casual adverb meaning 'recklessly', 'randomly', or 'indiscriminately'. Often used in everyday speech.
やたらにボタンを押さないで。
Don't press buttons indiscriminately.
Means 'messily', 'recklessly', or 'indiscriminately'. Stronger and more colloquial, often implying chaos.
彼はめちゃくちゃに物を投げた。
He threw things indiscriminately.
Describing actions done without proper consideration, often leading to negative outcomes.
Literally 'without thinking', used for actions done impulsively or without judgment.
彼は考えなしにクレジットカードを使った。
He used his credit card indiscriminately, without thinking.
Means 'without discretion' or 'indiscreetly'. More formal, often used in written contexts.
彼は分別なく秘密を話した。
He indiscriminately revealed secrets.
When a rule, action, or treatment is applied to everyone or everything in the same way, often with a negative connotation of being too broad.
A grammatical pattern meaning 'regardless of ~'. Used to say something applies to all without discrimination.
この規則は年齢を問わず適用される。
This rule is applied indiscriminately, regardless of age.
Means 'without distinction'. Used when something is done to all without differentiating.
彼は客を区別なく扱う。
He treats customers indiscriminately.
While 無差別 (musabetsu) is correct, using 差別なく (sabetsu naku) can imply 'without discrimination' in the social justice sense. Be careful with context.
やたらに is very common in spoken Japanese for 'indiscriminately' or 'randomly'. It often pairs with verbs like 使う (use), 押す (press), 食べる (eat).