冤罪(えんざい)

えんざい
noun
false accusation; wrongful conviction
1. false accusation; wrongful conviction
being charged or convicted of a crime one did not commit
冤罪(えんざい)で投獄(とうごく)された。
He was imprisoned on false charges.
長年(ながねん)の裁判(さいばん)の末(すえ)、冤罪(えんざい)が証明(しょうめい)された。
After years of trials, his innocence was proven.
冤罪(えんざい)事件(じけん)の被害者(ひがいしゃ)に国(くに)が謝罪(しゃざい)した。
The government apologized to the victim of the wrongful conviction case.

冤罪(えんざい) refers to being falsely charged or convicted of a crime one did not commit. A serious legal and social issue.

FORMATION:
冤(えん) (false charge, injustice) + 罪(ざい) (crime, guilt)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 冤罪(えんざい)を晴(は)らす: to clear one's name
  • 冤罪(えんざい)を主張(しゅちょう)する: to claim innocence
  • 冤罪(えんざい)事件(じけん): wrongful conviction case
  • 冤罪(えんざい)被害者(ひがいしゃ): victim of wrongful conviction
  • 冤罪(えんざい)で投獄(とうごく)される: to be imprisoned on false charges

RELATED WORDS:

  • 無実(むじつ): innocence (provable fact)
  • 濡(ぬ)れ衣(ぎぬ): false accusation (idiomatic, less formal)
  • 誤認(ごにん)逮捕(たいほ): wrongful arrest
  • 再審(さいしん): retrial

REGISTER:
Formal. Frequently appears in news and legal discussions.

Related Words

Related: 自白(じはく) (confession)
Synonym: 濡(ぬ)れ衣(ぎぬ) (false accusation (idiomatic))
general
Added 2026.1.26 14:21 · Revised 2026.4.20 15:28
08000/08392_enzai