訴訟

• Reading: そしょう
• Romaji: soshou
• Kanji breakdown: 訴 (so) — appeal, sue, accuse; 訟 (shou) — litigation, dispute
• Pronunciation: /so.ɕoː/

Meaning

Lawsuit; litigation. The formal process of taking legal action through the courts.

A noun and suru-verb referring to the formal process of taking legal action through the courts. Often combined with 起こす (okosu, to raise) as 訴訟を起こす (soshou wo okosu, to file a lawsuit). Related terms include 民事訴訟 (minji soshou, civil lawsuit) and 刑事訴訟 (keiji soshou, criminal prosecution).

Examples

1. 企業を相手に訴訟を起こすことにした。 I decided to file a lawsuit against the company.
2. 訴訟にかかる費用は想像以上に高い。 The cost of litigation is higher than you'd expect.
3. 長引く訴訟がようやく決着した。 The drawn-out lawsuit finally reached a conclusion.

Usage Guide

Context: law, courts, business disputes

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 訴 (so, appeal/sue) + 訟 (shou, litigate/dispute). Both characters relate to legal proceedings, combining to describe the process of bringing a case to court.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal