不法(ふほう)

Forms

不(ふ) (not) + 法(ほう) (law)

Usage

Primarily used as a modifier before nouns in compound expressions. Very common in news and legal language.

Similar words

• 違法(いほう): illegal — the usual word for breaking a specific law (違法(いほう)駐車(ちゅうしゃ), illegal parking); 不法(ふほう) appears mainly in fixed compounds such as 不法(ふほう)投棄(とうき)

Common collocations

• 不法(ふほう)投棄(とうき): illegal dumping
• 不法(ふほう)侵入(しんにゅう): trespassing, illegal entry
• 不法(ふほう)滞在(たいざい): illegal stay, overstaying
• 不法(ふほう)行為(こうい): unlawful act