1.
imprisonment without labor (as a criminal sentence)
A form of imprisonment under Japanese criminal law in which the convict is confined to a prison but, unlike 懲役刑, is not required to perform compulsory labor. Historically given for crimes considered to involve no moral turpitude, such as some negligence offenses. Under criminal-law reforms that take effect from 2025, 禁固刑 is being unified with 懲役刑 into a single sentence called 拘禁刑.
被告は禁固刑を受けた。
The defendant received a sentence of imprisonment without labor.
裁判所は禁固刑3年を言い渡した。
The court handed down three years' imprisonment without labor.
過失運転致死罪で禁固刑が科される場合もある。
In cases of negligent driving causing death, imprisonment without labor may also be imposed.
法律の改正により、懲役刑と禁固刑は将来的に一本化される予定だ。
Due to changes in the law, imprisonment with labor and imprisonment without labor are scheduled to be unified in the future.
Composed of 禁固 (confinement, being locked up) and -刑 (punishment, sentence). Sometimes also written 禁錮刑 using the original jōyō-kanji form {錮}, especially in legal documents. Refers specifically to the criminal-law sentence, not to detention in general.
USAGE:
A technical legal term; appears in court news, legal textbooks, and novels involving crime or trials. In everyday speech, people often say 刑務所に入る (to go to prison) without distinguishing the type of sentence. Journalists frequently use 禁固 (without -刑) as a modifier, for example 禁固3年 (three years' imprisonment without labor).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 禁固刑を科す: to impose a sentence of imprisonment without labor
- 禁固刑を受ける: to receive a sentence of imprisonment without labor
- 禁固3年の判決: a verdict of three years' imprisonment without labor
- 執行猶予付きの禁固刑: imprisonment without labor with suspended execution
- 禁固刑に処される: to be sentenced to imprisonment without labor
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 懲役刑: imprisonment with labor — inmates are required to perform prison labor
- 拘禁刑: confinement sentence — the new unified sentence that will replace both 懲役刑 and 禁固刑
- 罰金刑: fine (as a sentence) — a monetary penalty imposed by the court
- 拘留: short-term detention — a minor confinement sentence of 1-30 days
- 執行猶予: suspended sentence — the sentence is not carried out immediately, pending good behavior