Translation guide
The English verb 'spoil' has several distinct meanings: to ruin something, to overindulge a child, to treat someone too well, and for food to go bad. Each meaning has different natural Japanese expressions.
To make something less enjoyable, successful, or perfect; to ruin a plan, mood, or experience.
The most common and versatile way to say 'spoil' in the sense of ruining something. Used for plans, moods, events, and experiences.
雨でピクニックが台無しになった。
The rain spoiled the picnic.
His one remark spoiled the atmosphere.
Often used in compound verbs or set phrases to mean 'spoil' or 'impair'. More formal or written than 台無しにする.
その事件は彼の評判を損なった。
The incident spoiled his reputation.
A strong, colloquial verb meaning to completely ruin or wreck something, often used for plans or atmosphere.
彼の失言が会議をぶち壊した。
His slip of the tongue spoiled the meeting.
To give a child everything they want, making them behave badly or become demanding.
The standard verb for spoiling a child by being too lenient or giving in to their demands.
あの子は甘やかされて育った。
That child was spoiled growing up.
孫を甘やかしすぎると、わがままになるよ。
If you spoil your grandchild too much, they'll become selfish.
A phrase emphasizing raising a child in a spoiled manner.
彼女は一人っ子で、甘やかして育てられた。
She's an only child and was spoiled.
A loanword from English, used occasionally but less natural than 甘やかす. Often used in the passive form.
彼は子供の頃にスポイルされた。
He was spoiled as a child.
To give someone special treatment, gifts, or attention, often making them happy or pampered.
Also used for adults when you treat them indulgently, like a partner or pet.
彼氏は彼女を甘やかしている。
Her boyfriend spoils her.
Literally 'let someone have luxury', used when you treat someone to expensive or indulgent things.
たまには自分に贅沢をさせよう。
Let's spoil ourselves once in a while.
To fuss over someone, flatter or pamper them, often with excessive attention.
彼女はみんなにちやほやされている。
She is spoiled by everyone (fussed over).
For food to decay or become unfit to eat.
The standard verb for food spoiling or rotting. Covers a wide range of food spoilage.
牛乳が腐った。
The milk has spoiled.
暑さで食べ物がすぐに腐る。
Food spoils quickly in the heat.
Often used for food going bad, especially when it loses freshness or becomes damaged. Slightly softer than 腐る.
A general, colloquial way to say food has gone bad. Literally 'become bad'.
冷蔵庫に入れないと、すぐに悪くなるよ。
If you don't put it in the fridge, it'll spoil quickly.
To invalidate a ballot paper by marking it incorrectly, often as a protest.
The formal term for casting a spoiled ballot.
抗議のために無効票を投じた。
I spoiled my ballot as a protest.
Specifically casting a blank ballot, which is one way to spoil a vote.
彼は白票を投じて抗議の意思を示した。
He spoiled his ballot by leaving it blank to show his protest.
甘やかす only means to spoil a person (or pet) by being too indulgent. It cannot be used for food spoiling. Use 腐る or 傷む instead.
✕ 牛乳が甘やかされた。
Incorrect: The milk was spoiled (using 甘やかす).
○ 牛乳が腐った。
Correct: The milk spoiled.
腐る implies rotting or putrefaction, often with a bad smell. 傷む is more about losing freshness or becoming damaged, and can be used for fruits, vegetables, or fish that are starting to go bad but not necessarily rotten. In many contexts they overlap.
この肉は腐っている。
This meat is rotten (spoiled).
この野菜は傷んでいる。
These vegetables are going bad (spoiled).
This fish spoils easily.