Translation guide
The English word "culprit" refers to the person or thing responsible for a crime, problem, or undesirable situation. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 犯人 (はんにん) for a person who committed a crime, but other words and phrases are used depending on context, such as 原因 (げんいん) for the cause of a problem. This guide covers natural ways to express the idea of a culprit in various situations.
Referring to the individual who committed a criminal act, such as theft, murder, or fraud.
The standard word for a criminal or perpetrator. Used in news, police reports, and everyday conversation.
警察は犯人を逮捕した。
The police arrested the culprit.
犯人はまだ見つかっていない。
The culprit hasn't been found yet.
Means 'suspect'. Use when the person is not yet proven guilty. Often used in news before a trial.
容疑者は犯行を否認している。
The suspect denies committing the crime.
An archaic or formal term for a perpetrator, often used in historical or legal contexts. Rare in modern speech.
下手人は逃亡した。
The culprit fled.
Identifying the thing, factor, or person responsible for a non-criminal issue, such as a malfunction, mistake, or accident.
Means 'cause'. The most natural way to say something is the culprit behind a problem, especially for non-human causes.
停電の原因は落雷だった。
The culprit behind the power outage was a lightning strike.
このエラーの原因を特定する必要がある。
We need to identify the culprit of this error.
Can be used metaphorically for non-human culprits in casual or humorous contexts, but 原因 is more common for serious situations.
部屋が散らかっている犯人は猫だ。
The culprit behind the messy room is the cat.
Lightly accusing someone of a small misdeed, like eating the last cookie or leaving a mess.
A natural, casual way to ask 'Who did this?' without directly saying 'culprit'. Often used in everyday situations.
誰が最後のクッキーを食べたの？
Who's the culprit who ate the last cookie?
Playfully accusing someone as the culprit. Use only with close friends; can sound aggressive otherwise.
Using お前 (おまえ) is very informal and can be rude. Only use with close friends.
この落書きの犯人はお前だ！
You're the culprit behind this graffiti!
犯人 (はんにん) means 'culprit' or 'perpetrator' and implies guilt. 容疑者 (ようぎしゃ) means 'suspect' and is used before guilt is proven. In news, 容疑者 is used until conviction, then 犯人 may be used.
In English, 'culprit' is often used for non-human causes (e.g., 'The culprit was a loose wire'). In Japanese, using 犯人 for inanimate objects can sound odd or overly metaphorical. Use 原因 (げんいん) for natural expression.
Means 'ringleader' or 'main culprit'. Used for the person primarily responsible for a trouble or incident, often with a negative connotation.
彼がこの騒動の張本人だ。
He is the main culprit behind this turmoil.