How to say "misuse" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 悪用あくようnoun, suru verb, transitive verbMisuse as abuse: using something for a bad or wrongful purpose, a perversion of its proper use — as when authority or information is exploited for harmful ends. The nuance is deliberate wrongdoing.
- 乱用らんようnoun, suru verb, transitive verbMisuse as overuse: using something to excess, or misappropriation — diverting it to the wrong purpose. Think of the abuse of substances or of funds, where the problem is excess or improper use, not error.
- 誤用ごようnoun, suru verb, transitive verbIncorrect use through error rather than intent: employing something the wrong way. It is the word for mistakes in usage, such as using a word in the wrong sense — a malapropism.その語は誤用されやすい。↗The word lends itself to misuse by beginners.
Distinguish by what makes the use wrong: 悪用 for deliberate use to a bad end, 乱用 for excessive use or misappropriation, and 誤用 for using something incorrectly by mistake.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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