How to say "failure" in Japanese

• 失敗しっぱいJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for failing at something or making a mistake; it covers most ordinary senses of 'failure', from a botched attempt to a plan that goes wrong.
  １度いちどや２度どの失敗しっぱいはだれにでもある。↗

  Everybody fails once or twice.
• 破綻はたんCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbFailure as collapse or breakdown: something that held together falls apart or breaks up. It suggests a breakdown of the whole rather than a single mistake.
  彼かれらの結婚けっこん生活せいかつは去年きょねん破はたんした。↗

  Their marriage broke up last year.
• 挫折ざせつCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbA setback or failure of plans or business ventures, with the nuance of frustration or discouragement when hopes are dashed; the feeling matters as much as the outcome.
  資金しきん不足ふそくのためわれわれの計画けいかくは挫折ざせつした。↗

  Our plan failed because of the shortage of funds.
• 落第らくだいJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbSpecifically failure in an examination or failing to advance to the next year; it is not a general word for failure and only fits this academic sense.
  彼かれはいつも遊あそんでいたため落第らくだいした。↗

  He failed by playing all the time.
• 不成立ふせいりつCommon
  nounThe failure of a bill, motion or similar measure — it falls through, is rejected or miscarries. It is not the word for everyday personal failure.

Use 失敗 for general failure or mistakes, 破綻 when something collapses or breaks down, 挫折 for setbacks of plans with discouragement, 落第 for examination failure, and 不成立 for bills or motions falling through.

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

• 失敗しっぱいfailure
• 破綻はたんfailure
• 挫折ざせつsetback
• 落第らくだいfailure (in an examination)
• 不成立ふせいりつfailure (e.g. of a bill, motion)
• 不成功ふせいこうfailure
• 減退げんたいdecline
• 負け犬まけいぬloser
• 不始末ふしまつomission
• 損じそんじslip
• 故障こしょうfault
• 失態しったいblunder
• ぺけfailure
• 不覚ふかくfailure
• フェイルfailure
• しくじりfailure
• すかたんfailure (of a person)
• フェイリュアfailure
• 不結果ふけっかfailure
• 不首尾ふしゅびfailure
• 不当たりふあたりfailure
• 蹉跌さてつfailure
• 出来損ないできそこないfailure
• 失敗作しっぱいさくfailure (i.e. an unsuccessful work)
• やりそこないfailure
• 誤作動ごさどうmalfunction
• 不成績ふせいせきpoor result
• 失敗者しっぱいしゃloser
• ダメ人間だめにんげんuseless member of society
• 仕損じしそんじblunder
• 仕損ないしそこないblunder
• 齟齬そごinconsistency
• デクラッセdropout
• 不具合ふぐあいflaw
• 落伍者らくごしゃdropout
• 遣り損じやりそんじmistake
• 不合格ふごうかく(examination) failure
• 失敗例しっぱいれい(instance of) failure
• トラブルfailure (of an engine, machine, computer, etc.)
• 欠点けってんfailure (in an examination)
• 不調ふちょうfailure
• 外れはずれmiss
• 黒星くろぼしloss
• すかmiss
• 失しつmistake
• つまずきfailure
• 転びころびfailure
• 空振りからぶり(ending in) failure