Translation guide
Products made to imitate genuine items, often to deceive buyers. In Japanese, the most common term is 偽物 (にせもの), but specific words exist for branded fakes, pirated media, and counterfeit money.
Referring to any item that is not genuine, often used in everyday conversation.
The most common and versatile word for fake or counterfeit goods. Can be used for anything from fake designer bags to counterfeit money.
このバッグは偽物だ。
This bag is a fake.
偽物をつかまされた。
I was tricked into buying a counterfeit.
More formal term for forged or counterfeited goods, often used in legal or official contexts.
偽造品の販売は法律で禁止されている。
Selling counterfeit goods is prohibited by law.
Imitation goods, not necessarily illegal if not passed off as genuine. Often used for replicas or look-alikes.
この時計は模造品ですが、見た目は本物そっくりです。
This watch is an imitation, but it looks just like the real thing.
Specifically referring to knock-off designer goods like bags, watches, or clothing.
Commonly used for counterfeit branded goods, especially in consumer contexts. Often implies a direct copy of a famous brand.
あの市場ではコピー商品がたくさん売られている。
A lot of counterfeit goods are sold at that market.
Slang term for knock-offs or cheap imitations, often used casually among friends.
それ、パチモンじゃない？
Isn't that a knock-off?
Explicitly means 'fake brand goods'. Used in news or formal warnings.
税関で偽ブランド品が押収された。
Fake brand goods were seized at customs.
Counterfeit copies of copyrighted digital or physical media.
Standard term for pirated editions of movies, music, software, books, etc.
海賊版のDVDを買ってしまった。
I accidentally bought a pirated DVD.
海賊版ソフトの使用は違法です。
Using pirated software is illegal.
Literally 'illegal copy', used for unauthorized duplication of digital content.
違法コピーは著作権侵害にあたる。
Illegal copying constitutes copyright infringement.
Fake currency, coins, or bills.
Specifically counterfeit paper money.
偽札が出回っているというニュースを見た。
I saw news that counterfeit bills are circulating.
General term for counterfeit money, including coins.
偽物 (にせもの) is the broadest term for anything fake. 模造品 (もぞうひん) implies a legal imitation or replica, often used for museum replicas or training models. コピー商品 (コピーしょうひん) strongly suggests an illegal copy of a branded product.
The English phrase 'counterfeit goods' is often translated directly as 偽造品 (ぎぞうひん), but in casual speech, 偽物 (にせもの) or コピー商品 (コピーしょうひん) are much more natural. Using 偽造品 in everyday conversation can sound overly formal or legalistic.
Making counterfeit money is a serious crime.