Translation guide
The English word 'lie' has two main meanings: to tell a falsehood, and to recline or be in a horizontal position. This guide covers both, with Japanese equivalents organized by meaning.
To say something that is not true, to deceive.
The most common and general way to say 'tell a lie'. 嘘 (うそ) means 'lie', and つく is the verb used with it.
彼はよく嘘をつく。
He often lies.
嘘をつかないでください。
Please don't lie.
Literally 'say a lie'. Slightly less common than 嘘をつく but still natural.
彼は嘘を言っている。
He is telling a lie.
Means 'to deceive' or 'to trick'. Stronger than just telling a lie; implies intentional deception.
彼は私を騙した。
He lied to me / deceived me.
Formal/literary word meaning 'to falsify' or 'to lie about something'. Often used in official contexts.
彼は身分を偽った。
He lied about his identity.
To be in or assume a horizontal position on a surface.
The most natural way to say 'lie down' in Japanese. Literally 'become horizontal'.
少し横になりたい。
I want to lie down for a bit.
彼はソファーで横になっている。
He is lying on the sofa.
Means 'to lie down' in a casual, sprawling way. Often implies relaxing or lounging.
公園で寝転んだ。
I lay down in the park.
To lie face down, often to hide or take cover. Not used for sleeping or resting.
To be in a particular place or position (of objects, places).
Use にある for general location, に位置する for more formal/geographical contexts.
町は山のふもとにある。
The town lies at the foot of the mountain.
日本は太平洋に位置する。
Japan lies in the Pacific Ocean.
To be or remain in a particular condition (often abstract).
Used to express that something is left in a certain state, often untended or unchanged.
その問題は未解決のままになっている。
The problem lies unresolved.
For abstract location, such as 'the problem lies in...'
問題は資金不足にある。
The problem lies in the lack of funds.
In English, 'lie' (intransitive) and 'lay' (transitive) are often confused. In Japanese, the distinction is clear: 横になる is intransitive (you lie down), while 横にする is transitive (you lay something down).
赤ちゃんをベッドに横にした。
I laid the baby on the bed.
嘘をつく simply means to tell a lie. 騙す implies actively deceiving someone, often for personal gain. 騙す is stronger and more malicious.
The soldiers lay flat on the ground.