起訴

• Reading: きそ
• Romaji: kiso
• Kanji breakdown: 起 (ki) — rise, start, begin; 訴 (so) — accuse, sue, appeal
• Pronunciation: /ki.so/

Meaning

Prosecution; indictment. The formal act of bringing criminal charges against someone in court.

A noun and suru-verb used in legal contexts to indicate that formal criminal charges have been filed. The opposite is 不起訴 (fukiso, non-prosecution/dropped charges). Distinguished from 告訴 (kokuso, filing a complaint) — 起訴 is the official decision by a prosecutor to bring a case to trial. Japan has a notably high prosecution rate, and once charged (起訴された), the conviction rate exceeds 99%.

Examples

1. 容疑者は詐欺罪で起訴された。 The suspect was indicted on fraud charges.
2. 検察は証拠不十分で起訴を見送った。 The prosecution decided not to indict due to insufficient evidence.
3. 起訴されると、裁判が始まることになる。 Once indicted, a trial will begin.

Usage Guide

Context: law, news, court proceedings

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 起 (ki, rise/start) + 訴 (so, accuse/sue). Literally 'to raise an accusation' — initiating legal proceedings by formally filing charges.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal