Translation guide
This English phrase describes the situation of losing the source of income or support that one depends on to live. Japanese expresses this through specific nouns and verbs that focus on the loss of a job, business, or financial stability.
To express that someone has lost their job or the main way they earn a living.
A direct and common way to say 'lose one's job'. It can be used in both formal and casual contexts.
彼は不況で職を失った。
He lost his job due to the recession.
The noun for 'unemployment' or 'job loss'. Often used in compound phrases like 失業する (to become unemployed).
失業してから収入が途絶えた。
After losing my job, my income stopped.
A more casual way to say 'lose one's job'. なくす implies losing something you had.
会社が倒産して、仕事をなくした。
The company went bankrupt and I lost my job.
Means 'dismissal' or 'being fired'. It specifically refers to losing one's job due to the employer's decision.
彼は突然解雇された。
He was suddenly fired.
To express that someone has lost their own business or means of self-employment.
Specifically refers to losing one's trade or business. 商売 means business or commerce.
不景気で商売を失った。
I lost my business due to the recession.
An idiomatic expression meaning 'to close down one's shop/business'. It implies giving up the business.
長年続けた店をたたむことになった。
I ended up closing the shop I had run for many years.
A formal term for 'discontinuation of business' or 'going out of business'.
To express a broader loss of financial stability or the means to support oneself, not necessarily tied to a specific job.
A direct translation of 'losing one's means of livelihood'. 糧 (かて) means 'food' or 'sustenance', metaphorically 'livelihood'. It sounds somewhat literary.
彼は事故で働けなくなり、生活の糧を失った。
He became unable to work due to an accident and lost his means of livelihood.
生計 means 'livelihood' or 'living'. This phrase is slightly formal and often used in written contexts.
災害で多くの人が生計を失った。
Many people lost their livelihoods due to the disaster.
Means 'to lose one's source of income'. It is a straightforward and modern expression.
投資に失敗して収入源を失った。
I lost my source of income after a failed investment.
Both mean 'to lose one's job', but 職を失う is a more general phrase that can be used in various contexts, while 失業する specifically refers to becoming unemployed and is often used in economic or statistical contexts.
The English phrase 'losing one's means of livelihood' is somewhat formal and abstract. In Japanese, it is usually more natural to specify what was lost (job, business, income) rather than using a broad abstract phrase like 生活の糧を失う, which can sound literary or dramatic.
父は病気で廃業した。
My father went out of business due to illness.