検事(けんじ)

けんじ
noun
public prosecutor; district attorney
law
1. public prosecutor; district attorney
A legal official who investigates crimes and brings criminal charges on behalf of the state. In Japan, prosecutors belong to the 検察庁(けんさつちょう) (Public Prosecutors Office).
検事(けんじ)が起訴(きそ)した。
The prosecutor filed charges.
彼(かれ)は検事(けんじ)として20年(ねん)働(はたら)いている。
He has been working as a prosecutor for 20 years.
検事(けんじ)は被告(ひこく)に懲役(ちょうえき)10年(ねん)を求刑(きゅうけい)した。
The prosecutor demanded a 10-year prison sentence for the defendant.

Refers to a public official who prosecutes criminal cases. In Japan, prosecutors (検事(けんじ)) work under the 検察庁(けんさつちょう) (Public Prosecutors Office) and have significant authority, including the power to investigate crimes independently.

Common collocations

  • 検事(けんじ)が起訴(きそ)する: the prosecutor indicts
  • 検事(けんじ)が求刑(きゅうけい)する: the prosecutor demands a sentence
  • 検事(けんじ)総長(そうちょう): the Prosecutor General
  • 検事正(けんじせい): the Chief Prosecutor

Related words

Usage

検事(けんじ) and 検察官(けんさつかん) are often used interchangeably in everyday language, but technically 検察官(けんさつかん) is the broader official title while 検事(けんじ) refers to a specific rank within the prosecution system.

Related Words

Related: 検察官(けんさつかん) (prosecutor)
Related: 弁護士(べんごし) (lawyer, attorney)
Related: 裁判官(さいばんかん) (judge)
Related: 検察(けんさつ) (prosecution, prosecutor's office)
general
Added 2026.3.31 1:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
20500/20788_kenji