身代金(みのしろきん)

みのしろきん
noun
ransom
law
1. ransom
Money demanded or paid for the release of a captive. Used in both literal kidnapping contexts and metaphorically in computing (ransomware).
身代金(みのしろきん)を要求(ようきゅう)された。
A ransom was demanded.
犯人(はんにん)は身代金(みのしろきん)として一億円(いちおくえん)を要求(ようきゅう)した。
The criminal demanded one hundred million yen as ransom.
身代金(みのしろきん)目的(もくてき)の誘拐(ゆうかい)は重(おも)い刑(けい)が科(か)される。
Kidnapping for ransom carries a heavy sentence.

Literally "money in place of one's body." The word breaks down as 身代(みのしろ) (substitute for a person) + 金(きん) (money).

Common collocations

In modern usage, also appears in computing contexts: 身代金(みのしろきん)要求型(ようきゅうがた)ウイルス or ランサムウェア refers to ransomware that encrypts files and demands payment.

Related Words

Related: 誘拐(ゆうかい) (kidnapping)
Related: 人質(ひとじち) (hostage)
general
Added 2026.2.28 19:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
14000/14302_minoshirokin