容疑者

• Reading: ようぎしゃ
• Romaji: yougisha
• Kanji breakdown: 容 (you) — appearance, form; 疑 (gi) — doubt, suspect; 者 (sha) — person
• Pronunciation: /jo.ɯ.gi.ɕa/

Meaning

Suspect. A person suspected of committing a crime.

A noun used primarily in legal and news contexts to refer to someone suspected of a crime but not yet formally charged or convicted. Distinct from 被告 (defendant, someone formally charged) and 犯人 (criminal/perpetrator, confirmed). Japanese news strictly uses 容疑者 until charges are filed, reflecting the presumption of innocence. Often attached after the person's name as a suffix (山田容疑者).

Examples

1. 容疑者は犯行を否認している。 The suspect is denying involvement in the crime.
2. 警察は昨夜、容疑者を逮捕した。 Police arrested the suspect last night.
3. 容疑者の身元がようやく判明した。 The suspect's identity has finally been confirmed.

Usage Guide

Context: law, news, crime, police

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 容疑 (yougi, suspicion) + 者 (sha, person). 容 means 'appearance/form' and 疑 means 'doubt/suspect,' together meaning 'person under suspicion.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal