Translation guide
How to express treating someone or something with contempt in Japanese, from strong disdain to casual disrespect.
Expressing that you consider someone or something inferior or worthless.
The most common and direct verb for looking down on someone or treating them as inferior.
彼はいつも私を見下している。
He always looks down on me.
人を見下すような態度はよくない。
An attitude that looks down on people is not good.
Stronger than 見下す; implies active contempt or scorn, often used in formal or written contexts.
彼の行動を軽蔑している。
I despise his behavior.
To make fun of or treat as stupid; very common in casual speech.
彼は私の意見を馬鹿にした。
He made fun of my opinion.
To underestimate or belittle, often implying a failure to recognize true worth. Somewhat literary.
敵を侮ってはいけない。
Don't underestimate your enemy.
Showing a lack of respect or consideration, often through actions or attitude.
To make light of or treat as unimportant; often used for disregarding advice, rules, or people.
彼は親の忠告を軽んじた。
He disregarded his parents' advice.
To handle roughly or carelessly; implies treating someone or something without proper respect.
客をぞんざいに扱ってはいけない。
Don't treat customers disrespectfully.
To neglect or treat with contempt, often implying a deliberate slight. Strong and somewhat literary.
彼は家族を蔑ろにしている。
He neglects his family (treats them with contempt).
Expressing contempt openly through words, facial expressions, or tone.
To sneer or laugh scornfully at someone.
彼は私の失敗を嘲笑った。
He sneered at my failure.
To mock or deride; similar to 嘲笑う but can be less visual.
To laugh through one's nose; a very common idiomatic way to say 'scoff' or 'snort derisively'.
彼は私の提案を鼻で笑った。
He scoffed at my suggestion.
Showing contempt by ignoring or refusing to acknowledge someone.
To ignore; when done deliberately, it conveys contempt.
彼は私の存在を完全に無視した。
He completely ignored my existence.
To not engage with someone; to treat as not worth dealing with.
彼は私のことを全く相手にしなかった。
He didn't give me the time of day.
見下す is more about a general attitude of looking down on someone, while 軽蔑する is a stronger, more active feeling of contempt or disgust. 軽蔑する is often used in formal writing or serious contexts.
彼はいつも人を見下している。
He always looks down on people.
彼の不正を軽蔑する。
I despise his dishonesty.
English phrases like 'treat with contempt' don't have a single direct equivalent. Using a literal translation like 軽蔑で扱う is unnatural. Instead, use the verbs and phrases listed above.
彼女は彼の努力を嘲った。
She mocked his efforts.
Literally 'not even put on a tooth'; an idiomatic expression meaning to treat as completely insignificant.
彼は私の警告を歯牙にもかけなかった。
He paid no heed whatsoever to my warning.