Translation guide
The state or condition of lacking law, order, or legal control. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through nouns describing disorder, absence of rules, or illegal behavior, as well as set phrases and descriptive expressions.
Describing a situation where laws are not enforced or followed, leading to chaos.
That area is in a state of lawlessness.
Means 'disorder' or 'chaos', emphasizing the absence of order rather than specifically legal rules.
After the war, the country fell into lawlessness.
Refers to disorder or confusion, often used in contexts like financial irregularities or administrative chaos.
The company's accounting was in a state of lawlessness.
Referring to acts that break the law, often in a wild or unrestrained manner.
Commonly used for delinquency or misconduct, especially by minors, but can extend to general lawless acts.
Youth lawlessness is increasing.
A compound meaning 'lawless act', directly combining 無法 (lawless) and 行為 (act).
A literary term for violence, riot, or outrage, often implying lawless rampage.
Describing a systemic absence of legal authority or enforcement.
無法 (muhō) specifically implies a lack of law or disregard for legal rules, often with a negative moral connotation. 無秩序 (muchitsujo) is broader, meaning disorder or chaos, and can be used in non-legal contexts like messy rooms or disorganized systems.
disorderly room
There is no single Japanese word that covers all nuances of 'lawlessness'. Using 無法 as a catch-all is acceptable, but in many contexts, more specific terms like 非行 (delinquency) or 無秩序 (disorder) are more natural.
His lawless acts finally got him caught by the police.
酔っ払いが街で狼藉を働いた。
A drunkard committed lawless acts in the street.
That slum has turned into a lawless zone.
Literally 'state of anarchy', referring to a situation without government control.
After the revolution, the country fell into lawlessness.