Translation guide
Describes someone who cannot or does not conform to societal norms, often implying social withdrawal, failure, or deviance. Japanese expressions range from clinical terms to slang, depending on the nuance.
A person who does not fit into mainstream society, often due to personality, behavior, or lifestyle.
A formal, clinical term for someone who is socially maladjusted or unable to adapt to society. Often used in psychological or sociological contexts.
彼は自分を社会不適合者だと思っている。
He thinks of himself as a person unfit for society.
Literally 'someone who sticks out', implying a person who doesn't fit the mold. More colloquial and slightly negative, but can be used in casual conversation.
彼は小さい頃からはみ出し者だった。
He's been an outcast since he was little.
Means 'heretic' or 'maverick'. Used for someone who defies conventions, often with a nuance of being a pioneer or rebel rather than just a failure.
彼は業界の異端児として知られている。
He is known as a maverick in the industry.
Literally 'dropout' or 'failure'. Often used in educational or corporate contexts for someone who can't keep up. Implies inability rather than choice.
彼は学校の落ちこぼれだった。
He was a failure at school.
A person who withdraws from society, often staying at home for extended periods.
Refers to a person who has withdrawn from social life, often remaining at home for months or years. A well-known social phenomenon in Japan.
彼は何年も引きこもりだ。
He has been a shut-in for years.
Acronym for 'Not in Education, Employment, or Training'. Overlaps with hikikomori but focuses on lack of productive activity. Can be derogatory.
彼は大学を出てからずっとニートだ。
He's been a NEET ever since he graduated from college.
Someone who actively violates social norms or laws, often with a clinical or legal nuance.
A formal term for an antisocial person, often used in criminology or psychology. Implies a pattern of behavior against society.
彼は反社会的人物として警察にマークされている。
He is flagged by the police as an antisocial person.
Specifically a juvenile delinquent. Used for minors who commit crimes or antisocial acts.
彼は非行少年として補導された。
He was taken into custody as a juvenile delinquent.
Someone who is not part of a group or community, often by choice or circumstance.
Means 'outsider' or 'stranger'. Used for someone who doesn't belong to a particular community or group. Can be neutral or slightly negative.
村では彼はいつまでもよそ者扱いだった。
In the village, he was always treated as an outsider.
Literally 'outsider' in a more formal sense, often used in organizational contexts (e.g., 'unauthorized person').
The phrase 'person unfit for society' is not a common collocation in English. In Japanese, directly translating it as 社会に不向きな人 sounds unnatural. Use the specific terms above depending on the nuance.
社会不適合者 is a broad, formal term for social maladjustment, while 引きこもり specifically refers to physical withdrawal from society. A 引きこもり may be a 社会不適合者, but not all 社会不適合者 are 引きこもり.
Outsiders are not allowed to enter.