スパイ
すぱい
noun
spy; secret agent
1.
spy; secret agent; espionage operative
A person who secretly gathers information about another country, organization, or group. Also used loosely for a traitor or informant within a group.
彼はスパイだった。
He was a spy.
スパイ映画が好きで、よく観ている。
I like spy movies and watch them often.
組織の中にスパイが紛れ込んでいるかもしれない。
There might be a spy who has infiltrated the organization.
USAGE:
From English "spy." Used both for real espionage contexts and in entertainment (spy movies, spy novels). In casual usage, can refer to someone leaking information within a group (a mole or informant).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- スパイ映画 (spy movie)
- スパイ小説 (spy novel)
- スパイ活動 (espionage activities)
- 産業スパイ (industrial spy; corporate espionage)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 諜報員: intelligence agent — more formal, used in official or military contexts
- 工作員: operative; agent — emphasis on covert operations, often used in news