被疑者(ひぎしゃ)

ひぎしゃ
noun
suspect; person suspected of a crime
1. suspect; person suspected of a crime
A legal term for a person who is suspected of having committed a crime but has not yet been formally charged. Used in police and legal contexts.
被疑者(ひぎしゃ)が逮捕(たいほ)された。
The suspect was arrested.
被疑者(ひぎしゃ)には黙秘権(もくひけん)がある。
The suspect has the right to remain silent.
警察(けいさつ)は被疑者(ひぎしゃ)を取(と)り調(しら)べている。
The police are interrogating the suspect.
被疑者(ひぎしゃ)は容疑(ようぎ)を否認(ひにん)しており、捜査(そうさ)は難航(なんこう)している。
The suspect is denying the charges, and the investigation is proving difficult.

A formal legal term used in criminal law. In Japanese law, 被疑者(ひぎしゃ) refers to someone suspected of a crime before indictment. After indictment, the person becomes a 被告人(ひこくにん) (defendant). News media in Japan traditionally avoid using 被疑者(ひぎしゃ) and instead use 容疑者(ようぎしゃ).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 被疑者(ひぎしゃ)を逮捕(たいほ)する: to arrest a suspect
  • 被疑者(ひぎしゃ)を取(と)り調(しら)べる: to interrogate a suspect
  • 被疑者(ひぎしゃ)の権利(けんり): the suspect's rights
  • 被疑者(ひぎしゃ)不詳(ふしょう): suspect unknown

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 容疑者(ようぎしゃ): suspect — the term used in news media, functionally equivalent but not a strict legal term
  • 被告人(ひこくにん): defendant — a person who has been formally indicted, the next stage after 被疑者(ひぎしゃ)
  • 犯人(はんにん): criminal; perpetrator — refers to the actual person who committed the crime
general
Added 2026.4.6 0:13 · Revised 2026.4.10 17:28
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