Composed of 誘導 ('guidance, leading') + 尋問 ('interrogation, questioning'). Literally 'a guiding interrogation' — a question shaped so as to guide the respondent toward a particular answer.
USAGE:
The word originated in courtroom procedure but is now used freely in everyday speech and in journalism, often half-jokingly. It is something one accuses someone else of doing, rarely something a speaker would describe their own behaviour as.
In Japanese law, leading questions are generally prohibited during the direct examination (主尋問) of one's own witness, although they are permitted on cross-examination (反対尋問). The expression 誘導尋問 in English-language news coverage of Japan is normally used in this technical legal sense.
GRAMMAR:
Usually used as a plain noun. The verb form 誘導尋問する is possible but less common; speakers more often say 〜は誘導尋問だ ('that's a leading question') or 誘導尋問に乗る ('to fall for a leading question').
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 誘導尋問をする: to ask a leading question
- 誘導尋問に反対する: to object to a leading question (in court)
- 誘導尋問に乗る: to fall for a leading question; to be drawn in by one
- 誘導尋問に引っかかる: to get caught by a leading question
- 誘導尋問に気をつける: to be careful of leading questions
- それは誘導尋問だ: 'that's a leading question' (a common pushback)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 尋問: interrogation, questioning — the general term for formal questioning, as in court or by police.
- 主尋問: direct examination — the questioning of one's own witness in court.
- 反対尋問: cross-examination — the questioning of the opposing side's witness; leading questions are generally allowed here.
- 誘導: guidance, induction — the broader concept; can refer to anything from physical guidance (誘導員 'a traffic flagger') to abstract leading on.
- 問い詰める: to interrogate, to press (someone) with questions — a more aggressive style of questioning, but not specifically 'leading'.
- 鎌をかける: to set a verbal trap (to get someone to reveal information) — close in spirit to 誘導尋問 but emphasizes the trap-setting rather than the formal question structure.
DOMAIN NOTE:
The word is particularly common in Japanese television and radio drama, where police interrogation and courtroom scenes are stock settings. Defense lawyers in TV dramas often dramatically shout 「異議あり！誘導尋問です！」 ('Objection! That's a leading question!') — a phrase that has become almost a stock line in Japanese legal drama.