Translation guide
The English verb 'injure' covers a range of physical harm, from minor cuts to serious wounds. In Japanese, the most natural expression depends on the type and severity of the injury, as well as the context. This guide helps learners choose the right word or phrase.
足に怪我をしました。
I injured my leg.
彼は事故で怪我をしました。
He was injured in an accident.
To express that someone has been physically hurt, often with a focus on the injured body part.
The most common and general way to say 'get injured' or 'be injured'. Used for both minor and serious injuries. The verb する is often used in past tense した to describe an injury that occurred.
昨日、足に怪我をしました。
I injured my leg yesterday.
He was seriously injured in an accident.
Means 'to injure' or 'to wound', often implying a cut, bruise, or emotional hurt. Can be used for physical injuries, but also metaphorically for hurting feelings. Transitive verb.
彼はナイフで手を傷つけた。
He injured his hand with a knife.
A more formal term for 'be injured', often used in news reports or official contexts. Implies a certain severity.
その事故で3人が負傷した。
Three people were injured in the accident.
To say that someone injured a specific part of their body, often as a result of an accident or overuse.
Used for sprains, strains, or overuse injuries like hurting your back or knee. The focus is on the body part becoming painful or damaged.
運動中に腰を痛めた。
I injured my lower back while exercising.
彼はテニスで肘を痛めた。
He injured his elbow playing tennis.
Directly states that a body part was injured. More common in past tense. Note: 怪我 is a noun, so it's 〜を怪我する.
転んで膝を怪我した。
I fell and injured my knee.
To describe small, everyday injuries like cuts or bruises.
Means 'to cut'. Used when the injury involves a sharp object. Often used with body part + を.
紙で指を切った。
I cut my finger on paper.
Noun meaning 'scrape' or 'abrasion'. Often used with できる or する.
Noun meaning 'bruise'. Used with できる or ができる.
ぶつけて腕にあざができた。
I bumped my arm and got a bruise.
To describe severe injuries, often from accidents or violence.
Means 'to sustain a serious injury'. Formal and often used in news.
彼は事故で重傷を負った。
He was seriously injured in the accident.
Casual way to say 'get badly injured'. Common in spoken Japanese.
スキーで大怪我をした。
I got badly injured skiing.
To express that one person caused injury to another.
Causative form of 怪我をする, meaning 'to cause someone to get injured'. Used when the injury is accidental or intentional.
彼は不注意で友達に怪我をさせた。
He carelessly injured his friend.
Transitive verb meaning 'to injure' or 'to wound'. Can be physical or emotional.
その言葉が彼女を深く傷つけた。
Those words deeply injured her.
怪我 (けが) refers to an injury in general, often involving pain or damage to the body. 傷 (きず) specifically means a wound, cut, or visible injury. Use 怪我 for the event or condition of being injured, and 傷 for the physical wound itself.
怪我は治ったが、傷が残った。
The injury healed, but a scar remained.
傷つける can sound dramatic or emotional. For minor physical injuries like stubbing a toe, use 怪我をする or specific verbs like ぶつける (to bump).
転んで擦り傷ができた。
I fell and got a scrape.