How to say "absence" in Japanese

• 留守るすJLPT N4approx.Common
  suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveAbsence in the sense of being away from home: you are out when a visitor calls. It says nothing about where you are, only that you are not at home.
• 不在ふざいJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveGeneral absence of a person from a place, such as the office or one's seat. Use it when someone is simply not present, without implying any particular event they missed.
  私は彼女かのじょが不在ふざいなので失望しつぼうした。↗

  I was disappointed at her absence.
• 欠席けっせきJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbAbsence as non-attendance: missing a class, meeting, or other occasion one is expected to attend. This is the word for being absent from school or failing to attend a meeting.
  欠席けっせきされた友人ゆうじんたちのために、乾杯かんぱいしましょう。↗

  Let's drink to absent friends.
• 欠場けつじょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbAbsence as not taking part: a player or performer missing a match, game, or other event they were due to appear in. Think of it as absence from participation rather than from attendance.
• 欠如けつじょCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe absence or lack of a thing, quality, or ability rather than of a person: a shortage or deficiency of something needed. Not the word for someone being away.
  それは相互そうご理解りかいの欠如けつじょがもとになっていると思おもう。↗

  I think that is based on a lack of mutual understanding.

Choose 留守 for being away from home, 不在 for a person's absence from a place, 欠席 for non-attendance at school or meetings, 欠場 for not taking part in a match, and 欠如 for the absence of a thing or quality.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 留守るすabsence
• 不在ふざいabsence
• 欠席けっせきabsence
• 欠場けつじょうabsence
• 欠如けつじょlack
• 欠勤けっきんabsence (from work)
• 欠落けつらくlack
• おやすみholiday
• 不参ふさんabsence
• 不存在ふそんざいnon-existence
• 休みやすみvacation
• 欠けつabsence
• 休場きゅうじょうabsence (from a performance, match, etc.)