無罪

• Reading: むざい
• Romaji: muzai
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (mu) — without, nothing, non-; 罪 (zai) — crime, sin, guilt
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.zai/

Meaning

Innocence; being not guilty. The legal determination that a person did not commit the crime charged.

A noun and no-adjective meaning 'not guilty' or 'innocent' in legal contexts. The opposite of 有罪 (yuuzai, guilty). Key collocations include 無罪判決 (muzai hanketsu, not guilty verdict), 無罪を主張する (muzai wo shuchou suru, to plead not guilty), and 無罪放免 (muzai houmen, acquittal and release).

Examples

1. 裁判の結果、被告は無罪と判決された。 As a result of the trial, the defendant was found not guilty.
2. 無罪を主張し続けた被告が釈放された。 The defendant who kept pleading not guilty was released.
3. 証拠不十分で無罪になる可能性が高い。 There's a good chance of acquittal due to insufficient evidence.

Usage Guide

Context: law, courts, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 無 (mu, without/nothing) + 罪 (zai, crime/sin/guilt). Literally 'without guilt' — the state of being free from criminal liability.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal