Translation guide
The English word "indulgence" covers several distinct ideas: giving in to desires (often with a nuance of excess), being lenient or tolerant toward someone, and in a specific religious context, the remission of punishment for sins. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese expressions for each.
To express the act of allowing oneself to enjoy something that is considered a luxury, a guilty pleasure, or something done to excess.
A little indulgence now and then is good for the soul. · Chocolate is my favorite indulgence. · He lived a life of self-indulgence.
A noun or na-adjective meaning 'luxury' or 'extravagance'. Often used in the phrase 贅沢をする (to indulge in luxury). It carries a positive connotation of treating oneself.
It's okay to indulge yourself once in a while.
This is a small indulgence.
Literally 'to be sweet to oneself'. A common way to say you are indulging yourself, often used when allowing a treat or relaxing a strict rule.
I'm on a diet, but I indulged myself and ate cake today.
A formal noun meaning 'indulgence' or 'absorption' in something, often with a negative nuance of overindulgence or addiction. Used with する.
He is indulging in alcohol.
A literary term for self-indulgence or licentiousness, implying a lack of restraint. Rare in everyday speech.
To lead a life of indulgence.
To express the act of being overly permissive, patient, or accommodating to someone's whims, mistakes, or bad behavior.
His indulgence of his children's every whim spoiled them. · Thank you for your indulgence during my absence. · The judge showed indulgence toward the first-time offender.
A transitive verb meaning 'to pamper', 'to spoil', or 'to be indulgent toward' someone, especially a child or a subordinate. Often has a negative connotation of overindulgence leading to bad habits.
She indulges her children too much.
A phrase meaning 'to overlook', 'to tolerate', or 'to be lenient'. It implies a conscious decision not to punish or criticize a fault.
A na-adjective meaning 'generous', 'lenient', or 'tolerant'. Used to describe an attitude of indulgence toward others' mistakes.
An i-adjective literally meaning 'sweet', but often used to mean 'indulgent', 'soft', or 'overly lenient' in judgment or discipline.
To refer to the specific theological concept in the Catholic Church where a partial or full remission of temporal punishment for sins is granted.
The sale of indulgences was a major cause of the Reformation. · He received a plenary indulgence for his pilgrimage.
The standard term for 'indulgence' in a religious context. It refers to the remission of punishment. Note: 免罪符 (めんざいふ) specifically means a written indulgence or letter of indulgence.
It was believed that sins could be forgiven by purchasing indulgences.
A more formal and technical theological term for 'indulgence', used in academic or church documents.
The English word 'indulgence' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Using a dictionary gloss like 耽溺 or 放縦 in casual conversation will sound unnatural. Choose the expression based on the specific meaning you want to convey.
甘やかす implies actively pampering or spoiling someone, often by giving them too much of what they want. 大目に見る means to overlook a fault or be lenient in judgment, without necessarily giving material things. For example, a parent who buys too many toys is 甘やかす, while a boss who ignores a late arrival is 大目に見る.
I was raised with indulgence. (I was spoiled.)
I'll indulge you just this once. (I'll overlook it this time.)
彼の失敗に対して寛大な態度を取った。
He took an indulgent attitude toward his subordinate's mistake.
That teacher is indulgent in grading.
People who are indulgent with themselves don't succeed.
The doctrine of indulgences is one of the important teachings of the Catholic Church.