無実

• Reading: むじつ
• Romaji: mujitsu
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (mu) — without, lacking; 実 (jitsu) — truth, reality, fruit
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.dʑi.tsɯ/

Meaning

Innocence; guiltlessness; not guilty. Being falsely accused or having committed no crime.

A noun/no-adjective used primarily in legal and crime-related contexts. 無実の罪 (false accusation), 無実を証明する (prove one's innocence). Stronger than 無罪 (muzai, not guilty verdict) — 無実 specifically means the person truly did not commit the act, while 無罪 is the legal ruling which could also result from insufficient evidence.

Examples

1. 彼は無実の罪で10年間も投獄されていた。 He was imprisoned for ten years for a crime he didn't commit.
2. 新しい証拠が見つかり、無実が証明された。 New evidence was found and his innocence was proven.
3. 無実を信じてくれる人が一人でもいて救われた。 It was a relief that even one person believed in his innocence.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, crime, news

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 無 (mu, without) + 実 (jitsu, truth/reality). Literally 'without substance' — implying the accusation has no substance or truth behind it.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal