容 疑 者(ようぎしゃ)

ようぎしゃ

noun

suspect

formallegalperson

1. suspect, suspected person

A person suspected of having committed a crime. The standard legal/media term used before charges are filed.

容疑者(ようぎしゃ)が逮捕(たいほ)された。

The suspect was arrested.

警察(けいさつ)は容疑者(ようぎしゃ)の行方(ゆくえ)を追(お)っている。

The police are tracking the suspect's whereabouts.

容疑者(ようぎしゃ)は犯行(はんこう)を否認(ひにん)しており、捜査(そうさ)は難航(なんこう)している。

The suspect is denying the crime, and the investigation is proving difficult.

Usage: The standard term used in news reports and legal contexts for a person suspected of a crime. Japanese media follows strict terminology conventions depending on the stage of legal proceedings.

Legal terminology progression

容疑者(ようぎしゃ): suspect (before charges are filed)
被疑者(ひぎしゃ): suspect (formal legal term, same stage)
被告人(ひこくにん): defendant (after charges are filed)

Common collocations

容疑者(ようぎしゃ)を逮捕(たいほ)する: to arrest a suspect
容疑者(ようぎしゃ)を特定(とくてい)する: to identify a suspect
容疑者(ようぎしゃ)の身柄(みがら)を確保(かくほ)する: to take a suspect into custody

Related Words

Synonym: 被疑者(ひぎしゃ) (suspect (formal legal))

Compare: 被告人(ひこくにん) (defendant (after charges))

Related: 逮捕(たいほ) (arrest, apprehension)

Related: 犯人(はんにん) (criminal, culprit)

Compare: 被告(ひこく) (defendant, the accused)

Related: 犯罪者(はんざいしゃ) (criminal)

Compare: 囚人(しゅうじん) (prisoner)

Compare: 逃走者(とうそうしゃ) (fugitive)

Compare: 真犯人(しんはんにん) (the real culprit)

general

Added 2026.3.5 14:39 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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