不正

• Reading: ふせい
• Romaji: fusei
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — not; 正 (sei) — correct, just, right
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.se.i/

Meaning

Injustice; unfairness; fraud. Describes dishonest or wrongful conduct.

A na-adjective, no-adjective, and noun. Commonly used in formal and legal contexts: 不正行為 (fraudulent act), 不正アクセス (unauthorised access), 不正を働く (to commit fraud). Often appears in news about scandals, corruption, and cheating. Stronger than 不公平 (unfair), implying deliberate wrongdoing rather than mere imbalance.

Examples

1. 試験中に不正をした学生が処分された。 The student who cheated during the exam was disciplined.
2. 会社の不正が報道されて大問題になった。 The company's fraud was reported in the news and became a major scandal.
3. 不正なアクセスを防ぐためにパスワードを変えた。 I changed my password to prevent unauthorized access.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, news, ethics

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 不 (fu, not) and 正 (sei, correct/just/right). Literally 'not correct' — deviation from what is right or lawful.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal