How to say "accident" in Japanese

• 事故じこJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe default word for an accident as an unintended, often harmful event — a traffic crash, a workplace mishap — and also for lesser incidents or trouble. This is usually the word you want.
  その事故じこについて彼かれに質問しつもんした。↗

  I asked him about the accident.
• 偶然ぐうぜんJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers 'accident' only in the sense of chance: meeting someone or finding something by accident, purely coincidentally. It does not refer to crashes or mishaps; for those use 事故.
• アクシデントCommon
  nounA loanword from English for an accident or unexpected mishap, close in meaning to 事故. For an ordinary accident, though, 事故 is the more natural choice.
  雪道せつどうでアクシデントがなかったら、無事ぶじに帰かえって来これると思おもいます。↗

  If you don't have an accident on the snowy roads I think you should be able to get back safely.
• 過失かしつJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounHere 'accident' means one caused by negligence: the word points to carelessness and fault rather than to the event itself, and it also means an error or blunder. Typical where responsibility is at issue.
  私は彼かれの過失かしつを指摘してきしている。↗

  I'm pointing a finger at his mistake.
• 事変じへんCommon
  nounSeldom the word you want for an ordinary accident: 事変 really denotes a grave incident or upheaval — an uprising, disaster or the like. Its 'accident' sense is marginal; use 事故 for everyday mishaps.

Choose 事故 for an unintended harmful event like a crash, 偶然 for 'by accident' meaning 'by chance', 「アクシデント」 as the loanword alternative, 過失 when negligence is the point, and 事変 for grave upheavals rather than everyday mishaps.

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

• 事故じこaccident
• 偶然ぐうぜんcoincidence
• アクシデントaccident
• 過失かしつaccident (caused by negligence)
• 事変じへんaccident
• 不幸ふこうunhappiness
• 異変いへんunusual event
• 別条べつじょうsomething unusual
• 変事へんじaccident
• 変災へんさいaccident
• 偶有性ぐうゆうせいaccident
• 厄災やくさいcalamity
• 災厄さいやくcalamity
• 災禍さいかdisaster
• もしものことemergency
• 遭難そうなん(meeting with) disaster
• 間違いまちがいaccident
• 怪我けがmistake
• 難なんaccident
• 珍事ちんじgrave (and unexpected) incident
• 変わりかわりsomething wrong
• 間違えまちがえaccident
• 急変きゅうへん(suddenly occurring) accident
• 変へんincident