発覚(はっかく)する

はっかくする
verb
to be revealed; to be detected; to come to light
1. to be revealed; to be detected; to come to light
For something hidden, secret, or wrongful to become known. Almost always used for negative discoveries such as crimes, lies, or misconduct being exposed.
不正(ふせい)が発覚(はっかく)した。
The fraud was discovered.
浮気(うわき)が発覚(はっかく)して離婚(りこん)することになった。
The affair was discovered and they ended up divorcing.
会計(かいけい)データの改(かい)ざんが内部(ないぶ)調査(ちょうさ)で発覚(はっかく)し、社長(しゃちょう)が辞任(じにん)した。
The falsification of accounting data was discovered through an internal investigation, and the president resigned.

USAGE:
発覚(はっかく)する is almost exclusively used for negative things being exposed — crimes, scandals, lies, cheating, etc. For neutral or positive discoveries, 判明(はんめい)する or 明(あき)らかになる is used instead.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 不正(ふせい)が発覚(はっかく)する (fraud is discovered)
  • 犯行(はんこう)が発覚(はっかく)する (a crime is detected)
  • 嘘(うそ)が発覚(はっかく)する (a lie is exposed)
  • 事件(じけん)が発覚(はっかく)する (an incident comes to light)

RELATED WORDS:

  • 判明(はんめい)する: to become clear (neutral)
  • 露見(ろけん)する: to be exposed
  • 明(あき)るみに出(で)る: to come to light
general
Added 2026.3.6 22:46
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