How to say "disability" in Japanese

• 不具ふぐ
  no-adjectivePoints to physical deformity or impairment; because it can carry the force of 'cripple', it is a sensitive word to use of people and is seldom the everyday choice for disability.
• 廃疾はいしつ
  no-adjectiveDenotes disablement or disability as a condition; it is less common, and in ordinary talk or writing about disability it is seldom the word you want.
• 無能力むのうりょく
  noun, na-adjectiveCenters on inability, incompetence or incapacity — the lack of an ability or capacity — so for a disability in the sense of an impairment it is seldom the word you want.
• 障害しょうがいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe common, general word: it covers disability and handicap, and also disorder or defect, and is the usual choice when speaking of a person's physical or mental disability.
  彼かれの記憶きおく喪失そうしつは物理的ぶつりてきな記憶きおく障害しょうがいというよりは心理的しんりてきな障害しょうがいである。↗

  His loss of memory is a psychological problem rather than a physical one.

For disability as an impairment or handicap, 障害 is the common everyday choice; 不具 is a sensitive word for deformity, 廃疾 a less common term for disablement, and 無能力 means inability or incapacity rather than disability.

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

• 不具ふぐdeformity
• 廃疾はいしつdisablement
• 無能力むのうりょくincompetence
• 障害しょうがいdisorder
• 不自由ふじゆうinability