1.
private document
A document created by a private individual or organization, as opposed to an official or public document issued by a government body. In legal contexts, this distinction is important because forging private documents and public documents carry different penalties.
Compound of 私 (private; personal) and 文書 (document). The reading 文書 becomes しぶんしょ as a compound. In Japanese law, the distinction between 私文書 and 公文書 (public/official document) is significant — 公文書偽造 carries a heavier penalty than 私文書偽造.
Common collocations
- 私文書偽造: forgery of a private document
- 私文書の作成: creation of a private document
- 私文書と公文書: private and public documents