Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'missing person' depends on context: whether someone is unaccounted for, has disappeared, or is being searched for officially. The most common and neutral term is 行方不明者, used in news and formal contexts. For everyday speech, phrases like いなくなった人 or 行方不明の人 are more natural.
A person whose whereabouts are unknown, often used in news, police reports, or official contexts.
Standard term for a missing person. Neutral and widely understood. Used in formal announcements and news.
The police are searching for the missing person.
A slightly more conversational version of 行方不明者, literally 'person of unknown whereabouts'.
The missing person hasn't been found yet.
Talking about someone who has disappeared or is not where they should be, in informal conversation.
Referring to people unaccounted for after a disaster, accident, or large-scale event.
Used in legal contexts, such as declaring someone legally missing.
Legal term for a missing person, often implying voluntary disappearance or used in official declarations of absence.
He was reported as a missing person.
行方不明者 is the general term for anyone whose whereabouts are unknown, often used in news and police contexts. 失踪者 is more formal and legal, often implying the person left intentionally or a court has declared them missing. In everyday conversation, 行方不明の人 or いなくなった人 are more natural.
A search request was filed for the missing person.
A missing person who has been declared legally absent.
Directly translating 'missing person' as ない人 or ミッシングパーソン is unnatural. Use the terms above depending on context.
Have you seen this missing person?
The missing person was found safe.
He is one of the people who suddenly vanished.
After the tsunami, there are still many people who cannot be reached.