仕業(しわざ)

しわざ
noun
act; deed; doing (usually negative)
action
1. act, deed, doing, work (usually negative or mischievous)
An action or deed, almost always used to attribute blame or responsibility for something bad or mischievous.
これは誰(だれ)の仕業(しわざ)だ？
Who did this? (Whose doing is this?)
庭(にわ)を荒(あ)らしたのは猫(ねこ)の仕業(しわざ)だろう。
The garden was probably messed up by a cat.
この事件(じけん)は犯罪(はんざい)組織(そしき)の仕業(しわざ)だと警察(けいさつ)は見(み)ている。
The police believe this incident is the work of a criminal organization.

Common patterns

Usage: Almost exclusively used in negative contexts — mischief, crime, damage, or blame. Rarely used for positive actions. Common in mystery stories, news reports, and when attributing blame.

Note: Can also be used humorously for minor mischief: お菓子(かし)が消(き)えたのは子(こ)どもの仕業(しわざ)だ (The disappearing sweets were the children's doing).

general
Added 2026.2.7 15:48 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
10000/10355_shiwaza