賄賂(わいろ)

わいろ
noun
bribe; bribery
1. bribe; illicit payment to gain favor
Money, gifts, or other valuables given secretly to someone in a position of power or authority to influence their judgment or actions. A serious criminal offense in Japan.
賄賂(わいろ)を渡(わた)した。
He handed over a bribe.
賄賂(わいろ)を受(う)け取(と)ることは犯罪(はんざい)だ。
Accepting a bribe is a crime.
その政治家(せいじか)は賄賂(わいろ)を受(う)け取(と)った容疑(ようぎ)で逮捕(たいほ)された。
The politician was arrested on suspicion of accepting a bribe.

Refers to illicit payments made to influence someone in a position of authority. In Japanese law, both giving (贈賄(ぞうわい)) and receiving (収賄(しゅうわい)) bribes are criminal offenses.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 賄賂(わいろ)を贈(おく)る: to offer a bribe
  • 賄賂(わいろ)を渡(わた)す: to hand over a bribe
  • 賄賂(わいろ)を受(う)け取(と)る: to accept a bribe
  • 賄賂(わいろ)を要求(ようきゅう)する: to demand a bribe

RELATED TERMS:

  • 贈賄(ぞうわい): the act of giving a bribe (legal term)
  • 収賄(しゅうわい): the act of receiving a bribe (legal term)
  • 汚職(おしょく): corruption — broader term covering all forms of official misconduct
  • 袖(そで)の下(した): under-the-table payment — literary/euphemistic expression for a bribe
general
Added 2026.4.3 2:20
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