探偵(たんてい)

たんてい
noun
detective
1. private detective; private investigator
A person hired privately to investigate matters such as missing persons, cheating spouses, or corporate espionage.
探偵(たんてい)を雇(やと)って調(しら)べてもらった。
I hired a detective to investigate.
私立(しりつ)探偵(たんてい)が事件(じけん)を解決(かいけつ)した。
The private detective solved the case.
2. detective (in fiction)
A character who solves mysteries or crimes, especially in novels and media.
探偵(たんてい)小説(しょうせつ)が大好(だいす)きだ。
I love detective novels.

FORMATION:
探(たん) (search/investigate) + 偵(てい) (spy/scout)

TYPES:

  • 私立(しりつ)探偵(たんてい) - private detective
  • 名(めい)探偵(たんてい) - great/famous detective

COLLOCATIONS:

  • 探偵(たんてい)を雇(やと)う - to hire a detective
  • 探偵(たんてい)に依頼(いらい)する - to commission a detective
  • 探偵(たんてい)事務所(じむしょ) - detective agency

VERB FORM:
探偵(たんてい)する - to investigate; to do detective work

CULTURAL NOTE:
探偵(たんてい) in Japanese fiction is a popular genre, with famous characters like 名探偵(めいたんてい)コナン (Detective Conan).

Related Words

Related: 刑事(けいじ) (police detective)
general
Added 2026.1.19 7:21 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07033_tantei