被告人(ひこくにん)

Composed of 被告(ひこく) (accused) + 人(にん) (person). A formal legal term used in criminal trials.

Common collocations

• 被告人(ひこくにん)質問(しつもん): examination of the defendant
• 被告人(ひこくにん)席(せき): defendant's seat (in court)
• 被告人(ひこくにん)の権利(けんり): rights of the accused
• 被告人(ひこくにん)尋問(じんもん): interrogation of the defendant

Similar words

• 被告(ひこく): defendant — used in both criminal and civil cases; in civil cases, this is the standard term
• 容疑者(ようぎしゃ): suspect — someone suspected of a crime but not yet formally charged
• 被疑者(ひぎしゃ): suspect (legal term) — formal/legal equivalent of 容疑者(ようぎしゃ)
• 原告(げんこく): plaintiff — the opposing party; the one bringing the case

Usage

被告人(ひこくにん) is specifically a criminal law term. In civil cases, the equivalent term is 被告(ひこく) (without 人(にん)). In Japanese news media, a person's name is often followed by 被告(ひこく) (e.g., 田中(たなか)被告(ひこく)) once they have been formally charged.