現行犯(げんこうはん)

げんこうはん
noun
caught in the act; flagrante delicto
1. caught in the act; flagrante delicto; red-handed
A crime witnessed as it is being committed, or the person caught committing it. In Japanese law, anyone may arrest a person caught in the act of committing a crime (現行犯逮捕). Composed of 現行 (current, in progress) + 犯 (crime, criminal).
現行犯(げんこうはん)で逮捕(たいほ)された。
He was arrested red-handed.
万引(まんび)きの現行犯(げんこうはん)で捕(つか)まった。
He was caught in the act of shoplifting.
現行犯(げんこうはん)逮捕(たいほ)の場合(ばあい)は、一般(いっぱん)市民(しみん)でも逮捕(たいほ)することができる。
In cases of flagrante delicto, even ordinary citizens can make an arrest.

USAGE:
現行犯(げんこうはん) is used both for the crime caught in progress and for the person caught committing it. In Japanese law, 現行犯(げんこうはん)逮捕(たいほ) (arrest in flagrante delicto) is the only situation where a private citizen can legally arrest someone without a warrant.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 現行犯(げんこうはん)逮捕(たいほ) (arrest in the act)
  • 現行犯(げんこうはん)で捕(つか)まる (to be caught red-handed)
  • 現行犯(げんこうはん)で逮捕(たいほ)する (to arrest someone in the act)

SIMILAR WORDS:
犯行(はんこう)現場(げんば) means crime scene. 現行犯(げんこうはん) specifically refers to being caught during the criminal act itself.

general
Added 2026.3.5 15:54
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