Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Blame" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "blame", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
咎め
とがめ (togame)
N1 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
とがめる
とがめる (togameru)
C1 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "blame" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 咎め and とがめる.
In Japanese, 咎め (とがめ (togame)) is typically associated with "blame, reprimand, censure, fault-finding" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents The act of finding fault with someone, criticizing them, or scolding them for a mistake or wrongdoing. Often used in the form 「〜を咎める」.
On the other hand, とがめる (とがめる (togameru)) maps to "to blame, to reproach" (Syllabus Level: C1) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C1 vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "blame" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "咎め"
彼は自分の過ちを認め、誰にも咎められなかった。
He admitted his mistake and was not blamed by anyone.
Bilingual Context for "とがめる"
毎日、日本語を練習するためにとがめる。
Every day, I blame, to reproach to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は自分の過ちを認め、誰にも ＿＿＿ られなかった。" (Meaning: "He admitted his mistake and was not blamed by anyone.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "咎め" fits here because it means "blame, reprimand, censure, fault-finding" in the context of: "He admitted his mistake and was not blamed by anyone.". "とがめる" represents "to blame, to reproach".