Translation guide
How to express leaving something incomplete or not finished in Japanese, covering various contexts from tasks to creative works.
The speaker stops working on something before it is done, often with the implication that it remains in that state.
Literally 'leave it as half-done'. A natural way to say you left something unfinished, often used for tasks or projects.
I left the report unfinished and went to sleep.
Means 'stop in the middle'. Emphasizes the action of quitting before completion.
I stopped writing the novel halfway through.
A noun meaning 'incomplete' or 'unfinished', often used in formal contexts like describing an unfinished manuscript or work.
This work was left unfinished.
Not finishing a meal or beverage, often implying some remains on the plate or in the cup.
The standard verb for leaving food uneaten. Can be used for any leftover items.
I left some rice uneaten.
Specifically for food that has been partially eaten and then left as is.
The speaker trails off or doesn't complete what they were saying, often for emotional effect or because the implication is clear.
A work is abandoned or remains incomplete, often with a sense of finality.
I left the bread half-eaten and went out.
Literally 'make words muddy'. Means to speak ambiguously or not finish a thought to avoid being direct.
She hemmed and hawed and didn't say what she really meant.
これは彼の絶筆となった小説だ。
This is the novel that became his last, unfinished work.