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(かれ)はスパイだった。

He was a spy.

スパイ映画(えいが)が好(す)きで、よく観(み)ている。

I like spy movies and watch them often.

組織(そしき)の中(なか)にスパイが紛(まぎ)れ込(こ)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(えいが) (spy movie)
スパイ小説(しょうせつ) (spy novel)
スパイ活動(かつどう) (espionage activities)
産業(さんぎょう)スパイ (industrial spy; corporate espionage)

Similar words

諜報員(ちょうほういん): intelligence agent — more formal, used in official or military contexts
工作員(こうさくいん): operative; agent — emphasis on covert operations, often used in news

Related Words

Compare: 諜報員(ちょうほういん) (intelligence agent)

Compare: 工作員 (operative)

Compare: 密告者(みっこくしゃ) (informer)

Compare: 間諜(かんちょう) (spy)

Compare: 密偵(みってい) (spy)

Compare: 内通者(ないつうしゃ) (informant)

general

Added 2026.3.20 22:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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