偽造

• Reading: ぎぞう
• Romaji: gizou
• Kanji breakdown: 偽 (gi) — false, fake, counterfeit; 造 (zō) — make, create, build
• Pronunciation: /ɡi.zoː/

Meaning

Forgery; counterfeiting; fabrication. The act of creating a fraudulent imitation.

A noun and suru-verb referring to the illegal creation of fake documents, currency, or other items. Common collocations include 偽造パスポート (forged passport), 偽造紙幣 (counterfeit bill), and 文書偽造 (document forgery). A serious legal term that appears in news and crime-related contexts.

Examples

1. 偽造パスポートで入国しようとして逮捕された。 He was arrested for trying to enter the country with a forged passport.
2. この紙幣は偽造かどうか確認してください。 Please check whether this bill is counterfeit.
3. 書類の偽造は重い罪に問われる。 Forging documents is subject to severe criminal penalties.

Usage Guide

Context: law, crime, news, security

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 偽 (gi, false/fake) + 造 (zō, to make/to create). Literally 'false creation' — manufacturing something deceptive.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal