海賊版(かいぞくばん)

かいぞくばん
noun
pirated edition; bootleg copy
1. pirated edition; bootleg copy; counterfeit version
An unauthorized copy of copyrighted material such as books, software, music, movies, or manga. Made and distributed without the permission of the copyright holder.
海賊版(かいぞくばん)は違法(いほう)です。
Pirated copies are illegal.
ネットで海賊版(かいぞくばん)のマンガを読(よ)むのはやめよう。
Let's stop reading pirated manga online.
政府(せいふ)は海賊版(かいぞくばん)サイトの取(と)り締(し)まりを強化(きょうか)している。
The government is strengthening its crackdown on piracy sites.

A compound of 海賊(かいぞく) (pirate) + 版(ばん) (edition/version). The metaphor of piracy for unauthorized copying is shared with English.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 海賊版(かいぞくばん)サイト: piracy website
  • 海賊版(かいぞくばん)ソフト: pirated software
  • 海賊版(かいぞくばん)DVD: bootleg DVD
  • 海賊版(かいぞくばん)の取(と)り締(し)まり: crackdown on piracy
  • 海賊版(かいぞくばん)を撲滅(ぼくめつ)する: to eradicate piracy

USAGE:
In Japan, the term is particularly associated with pirated manga and anime, which has been a major issue for the publishing and animation industries. The word carries a strongly negative connotation.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 著作権侵害(ちょさくけんしんがい): copyright infringement
  • 違法(いほう)コピー: illegal copy
  • 正規品(せいきひん): legitimate product
general
Added 2026.4.2 0:21
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