Translation guide
How to express 'commit a crime' in Japanese, from common verbs to formal legal terms.
Express the act of committing a crime in everyday or general contexts.
Use a specific verb that pairs with a particular crime, which is often more natural than 犯す.
For many specific crimes, simply use をする (to do). This is the most natural and common pattern.
彼は窃盗をした。
He committed theft.
万引きをするのは犯罪です。
Shoplifting is a crime.
Express the state of having committed a crime, often in legal contexts.
Means 'to be guilty of a crime' or 'it amounts to committing a crime'. Used to state the legal conclusion.
それをすると罪を犯したことになる。
If you do that, you will have committed a crime.
While 犯す (おかす) is the direct translation of 'commit', it is not always the most natural choice. For many specific crimes, Japanese speakers simply use する (to do). For example, 'commit theft' is usually 窃盗をする, not 窃盗を犯す. 犯す is more common with serious crimes like murder (殺人を犯す) or in formal contexts.
Using 犯す for every crime can sound unnatural or overly dramatic. When in doubt, 〜をする is a safe and natural choice for most crimes in everyday speech.
彼は重い罪を犯した。
He committed a serious crime.
A formal, often written expression meaning 'to carry out a crime'. Used in news reports or legal contexts.
容疑者は深夜に犯行に及んだ。
The suspect committed the crime late at night.
Used with certain crimes like 殺人 (murder) or 強盗 (robbery), but をする is often more common. 犯す can sound more serious or formal.
殺人を犯した男が逮捕された。
The man who committed murder was arrested.
Used with certain crimes like 悪事 (evil deed) or 盗み (theft) in a somewhat literary or set-phrase manner.
彼は悪事を働いた。
He committed an evil deed.
Means 'to be found guilty'. Focuses on the verdict rather than the act itself.
彼は有罪になった。
He was found guilty.