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.
冷蔵庫に何もない。
There is nothing in the fridge.
A noun meaning 'nothingness' or 'void'. Often used in philosophical or abstract contexts. Can sound formal or literary.
無から有は生じない。
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.
可能性はゼロだ。
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.
スコアは2対ゼロだった。
The score was two to naught.
気温がゼロ度以下になった。
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.
結果は零でした。
The result was naught.
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.
電話番号は〇九〇…
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.
努力が無駄になった。
My efforts came to naught.
そんなことをしても無駄だ。
It's naught to do such a thing.
Means 'meaningless' or 'nonsensical'. Emphasizes lack of meaning rather than just waste.
その議論は無意味だ。
That argument is naught.
Literally 'has no value'. A straightforward way to say something is worthless.
この情報は何の価値もない。
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.
計画は水の泡になった。
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.
彼の努力は無に帰した。
His efforts came to naught.
Means 'to end in vain effort'. A more specific way to say efforts were futile.
長年の研究が徒労に終わった。
Years of research came to naught.
To treat something as having no value; to disregard or defy.
Means 'to ignore' or 'disregard'. The most direct way to express setting something at naught.
彼は規則を無視した。
He set the rules at naught.
Means 'to make light of' or 'to despise'. Conveys treating something as worthless.
彼は忠告を軽んじた。
He set the advice at naught.
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.
彼の仕事はすべて水の泡になった。
All his work came to naught.
得点はゼロだった。
The score was naught.