Translation guide
The English word 'unimportant' describes things that lack significance, value, or priority. In Japanese, the most natural way to express this depends on context: whether you're describing a trivial matter, a minor detail, or something not worth worrying about. Common expressions include 重要ではない, 大したことではない, and どうでもいい.
That issue is unimportant.
Literally 'it's not a big thing'. Very common in spoken Japanese to downplay something.
That's not a big deal.
Expresses that something doesn't matter or is of no concern. Can sound dismissive or indifferent.
His opinion is unimportant (I don't care).
Means 'trivial' or 'minor'. Often used for small, unimportant details.
Don't worry about unimportant mistakes.
Literally 'not worth taking up'. A more literary expression for something insignificant.
His counterargument was unimportant.
Indicating that something is not a priority or can be ignored for now.
Reassuring someone that something is not important enough to cause concern.
Direct translations like '重要じゃない' are grammatically correct but can sound stiff. In casual speech, phrases like '大したことない' or 'どうでもいい' are more natural depending on the nuance.
どうでもいい implies indifference or dismissiveness, while 重要ではない is a neutral statement of fact. Use どうでもいい carefully as it can sound rude.
This matter is unimportant (low priority).
A mistake of that level is unimportant.