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.
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.
The incident spoiled his reputation.
A strong, colloquial verb meaning to completely ruin or wreck something, often used for plans or atmosphere.
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.
That child was spoiled growing up.
A phrase emphasizing raising a child in a spoiled manner.
A loanword from English, used occasionally but less natural than 甘やかす. Often used in the passive form.
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.
Her boyfriend spoils her.
Literally 'let someone have luxury', used when you treat someone to expensive or indulgent things.
Let's spoil ourselves once in a while.
To fuss over someone, flatter or pamper them, often with excessive attention.
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.
The milk has spoiled.
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'.
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.
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.
Incorrect: The milk was spoiled (using 甘やかす).
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.
This meat is rotten (spoiled).
If you spoil your grandchild too much, they'll become selfish.
She's an only child and was spoiled.
This fish spoils easily.
He spoiled his ballot by leaving it blank to show his protest.
These vegetables are going bad (spoiled).