Translation guide
The English word 'neglecting' covers a range of meanings from failing to care for someone or something, to ignoring duties, to simply not paying attention. Japanese uses different words depending on what is being neglected and the nuance of the neglect.
When someone fails to provide necessary care, attention, or maintenance, leading to harm or deterioration.
Literally 'to leave as is', this is the most common and versatile word for neglecting something by not taking action. It can be used for objects, situations, or even people when you fail to attend to them.
彼は庭を放置して、草が伸び放題だ。
He's neglecting the garden, and the weeds are overgrown.
If you neglect the problem, it'll get worse.
Means to neglect a duty or responsibility through laziness or carelessness. Often used for tasks, studies, or obligations.
彼は仕事を怠ってクビになった。
He neglected his work and got fired.
健康管理を怠ると、病気になりやすい。
If you neglect your health, you're more likely to get sick.
A casual, spoken word meaning to leave something unattended or neglected, often with a nuance of abandonment. Stronger than 放置する.
子供をほったらかして遊びに行くなんてひどい。
It's terrible to neglect your kids and go off to have fun.
Loanword from English, used specifically in social welfare or psychological contexts for child neglect or elder neglect.
児童ネグレクトは深刻な社会問題だ。
Child neglect is a serious social problem.
When you deliberately or inadvertently fail to notice, consider, or pay attention to something.
To ignore, disregard, or neglect to take notice of something. Often implies a conscious decision to not pay attention.
彼は私の忠告を無視した。
He neglected my advice. (He ignored it.)
交通ルールを無視してはいけない。
You must not neglect traffic rules.
To overlook, pass over, or neglect to notice something, often unintentionally. Can also mean to turn a blind eye.
To neglect or treat something as unimportant, to give something scant attention. Often used for duties or important matters.
彼は家族をなおざりにして仕事ばかりしている。
He neglects his family and only focuses on work.
When someone omits or fails to perform an expected action, often due to forgetfulness or carelessness.
Literally 'forget to do', this is the most natural way to express neglecting to do a specific action in everyday Japanese.
鍵をかけるのを忘れた。
I neglected to lock the door. (I forgot to lock it.)
彼に電話するのを忘れていた。
I neglected to call him. (I forgot to call him.)
To leave something undone, to neglect to do something and let the situation remain. Emphasizes the state of inaction.
宿題をしないままにして、先生に怒られた。
I neglected to do my homework and got scolded by the teacher.
As above, but here it emphasizes the failure to perform a specific action that is one's duty.
放置する is about leaving something unattended, often physical objects or situations. 怠る is about failing to fulfill a duty or responsibility due to negligence. 無視する is about actively ignoring something, often information or people. Choose based on whether the neglect is passive inaction (放置する), negligent omission (怠る), or active disregard (無視する).
English 'neglect' can often be translated directly as 放置する or 怠る, but in many cases, a more natural Japanese expression uses 〜するのを忘れる (forget to do) or 〜しない (simply not doing). Overusing 放置する for personal actions can sound unnatural.
小さなミスを見過ごしてしまった。
I neglected to notice the small mistake.
彼は注意を怠って事故を起こした。
He neglected to pay attention and caused an accident.