Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing a 'slight wound' depends on the type and severity of the injury. Common terms range from general words for 'injury' to specific ones for cuts, scratches, or bruises. The most natural choice often involves using a general injury word with an adjective meaning 'light' or 'minor'.
To refer to any kind of slight wound or minor injury in a general sense.
The most common and natural way to say 'slight wound' or 'minor injury'. けが means injury, and 軽い means light or minor.
I fell and got a slight wound.
Fortunately, it was just a minor injury.
A more formal or written term for 'minor injury'. Often used in news reports or official contexts.
Three people sustained minor injuries in the accident.
Literally 'grazing wound', used for a very slight scratch or scrape, like a graze. Implies the injury barely touched the skin.
I fell a bit, but it's just a scratch.
To describe a slight wound that is specifically a cut or scratch.
A cut, typically from a sharp object. For a slight cut, you can add 軽い (light) or 小さな (small).
I got a small cut on my finger from the paper.
A scratch or abrasion, like from scraping against a rough surface. Common for minor wounds from falls.
A scratch from claws or nails, like from a cat or a person.
To refer to a slight wound that is a bruise, without broken skin.
To emphasize that the wound is very slight, almost insignificant.
Literally 'about the level of a scratch', used to downplay an injury as very minor.
It's fine, it's just a scratch.
A common phrase meaning 'it's nothing serious' or 'it's no big deal'. Often used to reassure someone about a minor injury.
A wound like this is nothing serious.
けが (injury) is a general term for physical harm, often used for accidents. 傷 (きず) refers more specifically to a wound or cut on the skin. For slight wounds, both can be used, but 軽いけが is the most common phrase for a minor injury overall, while 軽い傷 is also possible but slightly less common.
I got a minor injury.
I got a slight wound.
Directly translating 'slight wound' as わずかな傷 or 少しの傷 is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural. Instead, use the common collocations like 軽いけが or specific wound types with 軽い/小さな.
(Unnatural) I suffered a slight wound.
I fell and got a scratch on my knee.
I got a scratch from the cat.
軽い打撲なので、すぐ治ります。
It's a minor contusion, so it will heal quickly.
○ 軽いけがをした。
I got a minor injury.