Translation guide
A narrative focused on solving a crime or mystery, often featuring a detective. In Japanese, this can be expressed through specific genre terms or descriptive phrases.
To refer to a story in any medium (novel, film, TV, etc.) where a detective solves a crime.
The most direct and common term for 'detective story' as a literary genre. Literally 'detective novel', but used broadly for stories.
私は探偵小説が大好きです。
I love detective stories.
この探偵小説は最後まで犯人がわからなかった。
I couldn't figure out the culprit until the end of this detective story.
Borrowed from English 'mystery'. Very common in modern Japanese to refer to mystery/detective stories across media. Slightly broader than 探偵小説.
最近のミステリーはどれも面白い。
Recent mystery stories are all interesting.
Literally 'deduction novel'. Emphasizes logical reasoning. Often used interchangeably with 探偵小説, but can include stories without a professional detective.
推理小説を読むのが趣味です。
Reading detective stories is my hobby.
To specify a gritty, realistic detective story often with a tough private eye.
Directly borrowed from English 'hard-boiled'. Used as a genre label for tough, cynical detective fiction.
ハードボイルド探偵小説が好きです。
I like hard-boiled detective stories.
To refer to a detective story set in a historical period, often featuring a samurai-era detective.
A genre of historical detective stories set in the Edo period, featuring detectives (岡っ引き) solving crimes. Very specific to Japanese culture.
捕物帳は江戸時代の探偵物語です。
Torimonochō are detective stories from the Edo period.
To talk about a detective story in film, TV, or games.
Combine 探偵 (detective) with a media word like ドラマ (drama), 映画 (movie), ゲーム (game).
この探偵ドラマは毎週楽しみです。
I look forward to this detective drama every week.
探偵映画を見に行きませんか？
Would you like to go see a detective movie?
Use ミステリー (mystery) with a media word for a broader mystery genre.
ミステリー映画が好きです。
I like mystery movies.
探偵小説 (tantei shōsetsu) specifically involves a detective. 推理小説 (suiri shōsetsu) emphasizes logical deduction and may not have a detective. ミステリー (misuterī) is the broadest, covering any mystery story. In casual conversation, ミステリー is very common.
探偵小説は探偵が事件を解決する話です。
A detective story is a story where a detective solves a case.
推理小説は謎解きに重点を置いています。
A deduction novel focuses on puzzle-solving.
彼女は探偵小説を書いています。
She writes detective stories.
京都を舞台にした探偵小説を読んでいます。
I'm reading a detective story set in Kyoto.