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Synonym Nuance VS

How to say "Safe" in Japanese

Both words can translate to "safe", but which should you choose?

Japanese Option A

安全

安全 (anzen)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B

無事

ぶじ (buji)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus

Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference

When translating "safe" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 安全 and 無事. In Japanese, 安全 (安全 (anzen)) is typically associated with "safe, secure (na-adjective, noun)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Can be used as a noun meaning 'safety' or a な-adjective meaning 'safe' or 'secure'. Refers to a state of being free from danger or risk.. On the other hand, 無事 (ぶじ (buji)) maps to "safe; peaceful; free from accidents; successfully (finished)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to a process/project completing safely without incidents, a person being safe from accidents, or living a peaceful life. Opposing word: 危険 / 事故. Often used as 無事に終わる or 無事を確認する. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'Safe/peaceful! "I have successfully completed the complex server migration without incident! I want you to hug and praise me quickly, Haruka-san!" ...っ! Completing without incident! B-Baka! I will praise you for finishing the debug, but don't sneakily request hugs like that! But... since you worked so hard, I suppose I will hug you specially just this once! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『ぶじ(無事)よ!『ハルカ部長、難解なサーバー移行を無事に終えました!早くあなたにハグして褒めてもらいたいです!』って…っ!無事に終える!バカ!/// デバッグが無事に終わったのは褒めてあげるけど、どさくさに紛れてハグをおねだりしないの!…でも、よく頑張ったから、今回だけ特別に抱きしめてあげるわ!』. A literal translation of "safe" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "安全"
この場所は安全です。
This place is safe.
Bilingual Context for "無事"
何ヶ月にも及ぶデリケートなデータベース大規模移行フェーズが、エンジニアたちの完璧なサポートによって_______完了しました。
The large-scale database migration phase spanning several months completed safely under the perfect support of the engineers.

Nuance Mastery Quiz

Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?

Fill in the blank: "この場所は ___ です。" (Meaning: "This place is safe.")
🎉 Correct Answer!

Remember: "安全" fits here because it means "safe, secure (na-adjective, noun)" in the context of: "This place is safe.". "無事" represents "safe; peaceful; free from accidents; successfully (finished)".