1.
legal, lawful, legitimate
Being in accordance with the law. Used as a na-adjective or noun.
それは合法だ。
That is legal.
合法な手段で解決しよう。
Let's resolve it through legal means.
この国では合法でも、あの国では違法になることがある。
Something that is legal in this country can be illegal in that country.
USAGE: Functions as both a na-adjective (合法な) and a noun. Often used in compound forms.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 合法的: legal, legitimate (adjectival)
- 合法な手段: legal means
- 合法化: legalization
- 合法化する: to legalize
CONTRAST: The antonym is 違法 (illegal). A related word is 適法 (lawful, in conformity with law), which is more formal and technical.