Translation guide
How to express that someone or something is alone, cut off, or separate from others in Japanese. The best choice depends on whether you mean physical isolation, emotional loneliness, or something happening as a single case.
Describing a person, place, or thing that is physically separated from others, often in a remote location.
Used for people, groups, or places that are physically cut off from others. Often implies lack of support or connection.
その村は山の中で孤立している。
The village is isolated in the mountains.
Stronger nuance of being completely cut off, often geographically or socially. More literary.
その島は外界から隔絶されている。
The island is isolated from the outside world.
Specifically for places far from human habitation, like a remote cabin.
人里離れた山小屋に泊まった。
We stayed in an isolated mountain hut.
Feeling lonely, cut off from others emotionally, or lacking social connections.
Describes a feeling of loneliness or being alone, often with a negative emotional tone. Can be used for people or situations.
彼は都会で孤独な生活を送っている。
He leads an isolated life in the city.
Also used for social isolation, like being ostracized or without allies.
彼はクラスで孤立している。
He is isolated in his class.
More colloquial and emotional, emphasizing being all alone. Often used by children or in casual speech.
一人ぼっちで寂しい。
I'm lonely being all alone.
Referring to something that happens only once, is not part of a pattern, or is considered separately.
Can be used for events or facts that are separate and unconnected to others.
それは孤立した事件だ。
It's an isolated incident.
Literally 'single-shot', used for one-off events or non-recurring things.
単発のケースとして扱う。
Treat it as an isolated case.
Means 'rare', can imply an isolated occurrence when context is clear.
まれなケースです。
It's an isolated case.
A language with no known relatives.
Standard term in linguistics.
日本語は孤立した言語と考えられることがある。
Japanese is sometimes considered an isolated language.
Shorter technical term.
バスク語は孤立語だ。
Basque is an isolated language.
孤立 (koritsu) emphasizes being cut off from others physically or socially, often with a nuance of lacking support. 孤独 (kodoku) focuses on the emotional feeling of loneliness. You can be 孤独 even when surrounded by people, but 孤立 usually implies actual separation.
都会の真ん中で孤独を感じる。
Feel lonely in the middle of the city.
彼は仲間から孤立した。
He was isolated from his peers.
The English word 'isolated' is sometimes borrowed as アイソレーテッド (aisoreetiddo) in technical contexts like electronics, but it is not natural for describing people or places. Use the Japanese terms above instead.