(そそう)

そそう
noun/suru-verb
blunder
1. blunder
blunder; mishap; careless mistake
粗相(そそう)のないようにお(ねが)いします。
Please be careful not to make any mistakes.
大事(だいじ)(せき)粗相(そそう)をしてしまった。
I made a blunder at an important occasion.
客様(きゃくさま)粗相(そそう)があってはならない。
We must not make any mistakes with our customers.
2. (of pets or children) to have an accident
(of pets or children) to have an accident; to soil oneself
()どもがトイレに()()わず粗相(そそう)をした。
The child didn't make it to the bathroom in time and had an accident.
(いぬ)部屋(へや)(なか)粗相(そそう)をした。
The dog had an accident in the room.
子猫(こねこ)粗相(そそう)をしないようにトイレの場所(ばしょ)(おぼ)えさせた。
I trained the kitten to remember where the litter box is so it won't have accidents.

粗相(そそう) has two main uses.

Sense 1 (blunder/mishap):

Used in formal or polite contexts to refer to careless mistakes, especially in hospitality or service situations.

  • 粗相(そそう)をする (to make a blunder)
  • 粗相(そそう)のないように (to ensure no mistakes)

Sense 2 (toileting accident):

A euphemistic way to describe when a child or pet soils themselves or has a bathroom accident indoors.

  • 粗相(そそう)をする (to have an accident)
  • 粗相(そそう)をしないように (to not have accidents)

REGISTER: Formal/polite for sense 1; neutral euphemism for sense 2.