Translation guide
The English word 'naught' can mean 'nothing', 'zero', or 'worthless'. This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for each meaning, from everyday speech to literary usage.
Expressing the absence of anything; 'nothing'.
Used with a negative verb to mean 'nothing'. This is the most common and natural way to express 'nothing' in Japanese.
何も見えない。
I can see nothing.
There is nothing in the fridge.
A noun meaning 'nothingness' or 'void'. Often used in philosophical or abstract contexts. Can sound formal or literary.
Something cannot come from nothing.
Loanword for 'zero'. Can be used metaphorically to mean 'nothing', but is less common than 何も for this sense.
The chances are zero.
Referring to the number zero, especially in scores, measurements, or technical contexts.
The standard word for the number zero in most contexts, including sports scores, temperatures, and counts.
The score was two to naught.
The temperature fell below zero degrees.
The native Japanese word for zero. More formal and often used in official documents, legal contexts, or when reading numbers digit by digit.
The symbol 〇 is read as まる (circle) and can mean zero in casual contexts, like when reading a phone number or a score. Not used in formal writing.
The phone number is oh-nine-oh...
Describing something as having no value or being in vain.
Means 'futile', 'useless', or 'waste'. Commonly used to say something is pointless or a waste of effort.
My efforts came to naught.
It's naught to do such a thing.
Means 'meaningless' or 'nonsensical'. Emphasizes lack of meaning rather than just waste.
Literally 'has no value'. A straightforward way to say something is worthless.
This information is worth naught.
Expressing that plans or efforts end in failure or without result.
Idiom meaning 'to come to nothing', literally 'to become bubbles on the water'. Used when efforts are wasted.
The plan came to naught.
Formal expression meaning 'to come to nothing' or 'to be reduced to nothing'. Often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
His efforts came to naught.
Means 'to end in vain effort'. A more specific way to say efforts were futile.
Years of research came to naught.
To treat something as having no value; to disregard or defy.
The English word 'naught' is archaic or poetic in many uses. In modern Japanese, it's usually better to use the specific equivalent for the intended meaning (nothing, zero, worthless) rather than trying to find a single word that covers all senses.
ゼロ is the default for the number zero in daily life. 零 is more formal and often used in legal, financial, or technical documents. In spoken Japanese, ゼロ is much more common.
All his work came to naught.
The score was naught.
The result was naught.
That argument is naught.
彼は忠告を軽んじた。
He set the advice at naught.