刑 事(けいじ)

けいじ

noun

detective, criminal affairs

See also: 掲示(けいじ) (notice, bulletin)

1. (police) detective

A plainclothes police officer who investigates crimes.

刑事(けいじ)が事件(じけん)を調(しら)べている。

A detective is investigating the case.

あの刑事(けいじ)ドラマは人気(にんき)がある。

That detective drama is popular.

ベテランの刑事(けいじ)が現場(げんば)に到着(とうちゃく)して、すぐに聞(き)き込(こ)みを始(はじ)めた。

A veteran detective arrived at the scene and immediately began questioning people.

2. criminal (matters)

Relating to criminal law or cases.

刑事(けいじ)事件(じけん)として扱(あつか)われた。

It was handled as a criminal case.

彼(かれ)は刑事(けいじ)責任(せきにん)を問(と)われた。裁判(さいばん)は来月(らいげつ)始(はじ)まる予定(よてい)だ。

He was held criminally liable. The trial is scheduled to begin next month.

刑事(けいじ)裁判(さいばん)と民事(みんじ)裁判(さいばん)は手続(てつづ)きが違(ちが)う。

Criminal trials and civil trials have different procedures.

刑事(けいじ) has two main uses.

AS 'DETECTIVE':

Refers to plainclothes police officers
Often featured in crime dramas (刑事(けいじ)ドラマ)

AS 'CRIMINAL' (prefix/adjective):

刑事(けいじ)事件(じけん) (criminal case)
刑事(けいじ)裁判(さいばん) (criminal trial)
刑事(けいじ)責任(せきにん) (criminal liability)
刑事(けいじ)罰(ばつ) (criminal punishment)

CONTRAST:

刑事(けいじ) (criminal) ↔ 民事(みんじ) (civil)
刑事(けいじ)裁判(さいばん) (criminal trial) ↔ 民事(みんじ)裁判(さいばん) (civil trial)

general

Added 2026.1.11 16:46 · Revised 2026.5.22 7:18

02500/02741_keiji