被 害 者(ひがいしゃ)

ひがいしゃ

noun

victim, injured party

1. victim, injured party, sufferer

A person who has suffered harm from a crime, accident, disaster, or other damaging event. The standard legal and journalistic term for 'victim.'

被害者(ひがいしゃ)の家族(かぞく)に連絡(れんらく)する。

Contact the victim's family.

詐欺(さぎ)の被害者(ひがいしゃ)が増(ふ)えている。

The number of fraud victims is increasing.

事件(じけん)の被害者(ひがいしゃ)は長年(ながねん)にわたり精神的(せいしんてき)な苦痛(くつう)に悩(なや)まされてきた。

The victim of the incident has suffered from psychological distress for many years.

Usage

被害者(ひがいしゃ) is composed of 被害(ひがい) (damage, harm) and 者(しゃ) (person). It is the standard term used in news, legal contexts, and formal writing. The antonym is 加害者(かがいしゃ) (perpetrator, offender).

In colloquial speech, people sometimes use 被害者(ひがいしゃ) figuratively to express that they feel victimized in everyday situations.

Common collocations

被害者(ひがいしゃ)遺族(いぞく) (bereaved family of a victim)
被害者(ひがいしゃ)支援(しえん) (victim support)
被害者(ひがいしゃ)意識(いしき) (victim mentality)
被害者(ひがいしゃ)側(がわ) (the victim's side)

Similar words

犠牲者(ぎせいしゃ): victim, casualty (emphasizes sacrifice, often in disasters or wars)
加害者(かがいしゃ): perpetrator, offender (antonym)

Related Words

Antonym: 加害者(かがいしゃ) (perpetrator)

Compare: 犠牲者(ぎせいしゃ) (victim, casualty)

Related: 餌食(えじき) (prey)

Compare: 怪我人(けがにん) (injured person)

Related: 被災者(ひさいしゃ) (disaster victim)

Compare: 遭遇者(そうぐうしゃ) (person who encounters)

Compare: 負傷者(ふしょうしゃ) (injured person)

Compare: 死傷者(ししょうしゃ) (casualties)

general

Added 2026.2.28 9:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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