自首する

• Reading: じしゅする
• Romaji: jishusuru
• Kanji breakdown: 自 (ji) — self; 首 (shu/kubi) — head, chief, to report
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.ɕɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To turn oneself in; to surrender to the police voluntarily.

A する verb meaning to voluntarily surrender to authorities, typically the police. In Japanese law, 自首 can be a mitigating factor in sentencing. The term is widely used in crime reporting, detective fiction, and legal discussions. Commonly appears in expressions like 警察に自首する (to turn oneself in to the police).

Examples

1. 犯人は三日後に警察に自首した。 The suspect turned himself in to the police three days later.
2. 弁護士に相談してから自首することに決めた。 After consulting with a lawyer, I decided to turn myself in.
3. 自首すれば刑が軽くなる可能性がある。 Turning yourself in may result in a lighter sentence.

Usage Guide

Context: crime reporting, legal, fiction

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (ji, self) + 首 (shu, head/chief, here meaning 'to report'). In legal contexts, 首 carries the classical meaning of 'to confess/report,' creating the sense of 'self-reporting' a crime.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal