Translation guide
This English phrase describes ignoring something or someone, either deliberately or because you are focused elsewhere. Japanese has several natural ways to express this, depending on whether you are ignoring a person, a rule, advice, or your surroundings.
He ignored my question.
She is ignoring my messages.
Slang for deliberately ignoring someone, often used among younger people. It implies a cold shoulder or cutting someone off.
That guy is totally ignoring me.
To let what someone says go in one ear and out the other; to pay no attention to what is being said, often because you don't care or it's not important.
I always just ignore his complaints.
To not engage with someone; to refuse to deal with them. It implies you are treating them as not worth your time.
He paid no attention to me at all.
To be unaware of or not notice things happening around you, often because you are distracted or careless.
To not mind or not care about something. It can mean paying no attention to minor things or not letting something bother you.
He pays no attention to the sounds around him.
Literally 'not paying attention'. A straightforward way to say you are not focusing on something.
Without caring about something; doing something regardless of something else. Often used when someone acts without regard for rules or others' feelings.
A polite phrase used when telling someone not to go to any trouble for you. It literally means 'without paying attention (to me)', but is a set expression for 'please don't bother'.
Please don't pay any attention to me. (Please don't go to any trouble.)
To deliberately disregard instructions, laws, or guidance.
Also used for ignoring non-human things like rules, advice, or warnings.
He ignored the doctor's advice.
To not follow or obey. Often used for rules, orders, or instructions.
He pays no attention to traffic rules.
Literally 'not lend an ear'. To refuse to listen to advice or warnings.
Do not directly translate 'paying no attention to' as 「注意を払っていない」 in all contexts. While it can be used, it often sounds stiff or unnatural. Use more natural phrases like 無視する or 気にしない depending on the situation.
無視する implies a deliberate act of ignoring, often with a negative nuance. 気にしない means 'not to mind' or 'not to care', and can be used for minor things or to show you are not bothered. Using 無視する when you simply didn't notice something can sound rude.
He paid no attention to the road signs.
He talked loudly, paying no attention to the inconvenience of others.
He paid no attention to my warning.