Translation guide
A business that investigates matters, often for private clients. In Japanese, the most common term is 探偵事務所 (tantei jimusho), but other expressions exist depending on formality and context.
A company or office that provides detective services, such as surveillance, background checks, or finding missing persons.
The standard term for a private detective agency. Commonly used in signs, advertisements, and everyday conversation.
彼は探偵事務所を経営している。
He runs a detective agency.
探偵事務所に調査を依頼した。
I hired a detective agency to investigate.
A slightly more formal or corporate-sounding term, often used in company names.
大手の探偵社がこの事件を担当している。
A major detective agency is handling this case.
A traditional term for a detective or credit investigation agency, often associated with background checks and corporate investigations. Less common in modern casual use.
探偵事務所 is the everyday term for a private detective office. 探偵社 sounds more like a formal company name. 興信所 is an older term, often implying credit or background investigations, and may sound outdated or specialized.
興信所に身元調査を頼んだ。
I asked a detective agency to do a background check.