Translation guide
Describes someone or something that has or brings bad luck. In Japanese, this is expressed through adjectives, verbs, and set phrases depending on whether you're talking about a person, a situation, or a thing.
To say someone is generally unlucky or has bad fortune.
The most common and natural way to say someone is unlucky. Literally 'luck is bad'.
彼は運が悪い。
He is unlucky.
今日は運が悪かった。
I was unlucky today.
A slightly more formal or written way to say unlucky. Often used in narratives.
彼は不運な人生を送った。
He led an unlucky life.
Casual, spoken phrase meaning 'I'm having no luck' or 'things aren't going my way'. Often used about a specific situation.
あー、ついてないな。
Ah, I'm so unlucky.
To say something is unlucky or considered a bad omen.
Means something is a bad omen or brings bad luck. Used for objects, actions, or events considered unlucky.
黒猫は縁起が悪いと言われている。
Black cats are said to be unlucky.
夜に口笛を吹くと縁起が悪い。
It's unlucky to whistle at night.
Means ominous or ill-omened. More literary or dramatic than 縁起が悪い.
不吉な予感がする。
I have an unlucky feeling / a sense of foreboding.
To express that you are experiencing a run of bad luck.
To describe a specific event that turned out badly due to bad luck.
Adverb meaning 'unluckily' or 'as bad luck would have it'. Used to describe an unfortunate turn of events.
運悪く雨が降り出した。
Unluckily, it started to rain.
Means 'unfortunately' or 'as luck would have it'. Often used when something inconvenient happens.
運が悪い describes a person's luck in general or in a specific situation. 縁起が悪い describes something that is believed to cause bad luck, like a superstition.
彼は運が悪い。
He is unlucky (as a person).
13日の金曜日は縁起が悪い。
Friday the 13th is unlucky.
あいにく彼は留守だった。
Unluckily, he was out.