Translation guide
The English word 'lapse' covers several distinct meanings: a temporary failure or mistake, a period of time passing, something becoming invalid or expiring, and a decline in standards or behavior. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese expressions for each.
Expressing a brief mental slip, error, or oversight.
A common loanword for a mistake or slip-up, used in casual and semi-formal contexts.
それは単なるミスだった。
It was just a lapse.
An adverb meaning 'carelessly' or 'absentmindedly', often used to describe a momentary lapse of attention.
I had a lapse and forgot the appointment.
A colloquial noun for a memory lapse, like 'brain freeze' or 'drawing a blank'.
I had a lapse and couldn't remember his name.
A formal noun meaning 'forgetting' or 'lapse of memory', used in business or official apologies.
I had a lapse regarding that matter.
Describing an interval or passage of time between events.
A noun meaning 'passage' or 'lapse' of time, often used in formal or written contexts.
With the lapse of time, the pain eased.
A common verb phrase meaning 'time passes'. More natural in everyday speech than the noun 経過.
A considerable lapse of time has occurred.
Means 'interval' or 'gap', often used for a lapse between two events.
Saying that something is no longer valid because a deadline has passed or a condition was not met.
A formal noun/verb meaning 'expiration' or 'lapse' of a contract, license, or legal right.
The contract has lapsed.
A common compound meaning 'expired' or 'past the deadline', used for memberships, visas, etc.
Means 'invalid' or 'null', often used when something lapses and becomes void.
Describing a fall from a previous good state, often in conduct or quality.
A noun meaning 'decline' or 'deterioration', used for a lapse in standards or quality.
There has been a lapse in service quality recently.
A strong word for moral lapse or corruption, often used in serious contexts.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'a lapse in attention' or 'letting one's guard down', often used for safety or discipline.
Accidents happen from a lapse in attention.
Both mean 'expired', but 失効 is formal and often used for legal documents or contracts, while 期限切れ is more everyday and can apply to food, coupons, or memberships.
English 'lapse' in phrases like 'I had a lapse' is often best expressed with うっかり or ど忘れ, not a direct noun translation. Using 経過 or 失効 would be incorrect here.
A momentary lapse of concentration caused the accident.
After a lapse of ten years, they met again.
I let my gym membership lapse.
発作の間隔が短くなっている。
The lapse between attacks is getting shorter.
My passport has lapsed.
This ticket has lapsed.
His behavior is a moral lapse.