Translation guide
A dragnet is a systematic, coordinated search or operation to catch criminals or gather evidence. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through specific police terms, metaphorical expressions, and descriptive phrases.
The speaker wants to refer to a large-scale, coordinated police search or operation to apprehend suspects.
This is the standard term for a simultaneous mass arrest or roundup, often used in news reports. It implies a planned, coordinated operation targeting multiple suspects or locations at once.
警察は暴力団の一斉検挙を行った。
The police conducted a dragnet of the yakuza group.
Literally 'investigation net', this term emphasizes the net-like, wide-reaching nature of a police search. It is used for ongoing investigations where police are spreading their resources to catch a suspect.
犯人は警察の捜査網に引っかかった。
The criminal was caught in the police dragnet.
This phrase means 'to lay a siege net' or 'to set up a cordon'. It describes the physical act of surrounding an area to trap a suspect, similar to a dragnet in a specific location.
警察は山に包囲網を敷いた。
The police set up a dragnet in the mountains.
While '手配' generally means 'arrangement' or 'wanted notice', in police context it can refer to the act of putting out an alert or dragnet for a suspect. It is often used in compounds like '全国手配' (nationwide wanted notice).
容疑者に全国手配が出された。
A nationwide dragnet was issued for the suspect.
This means 'arrest' or 'roundup', but it can imply a dragnet when used in contexts of mass arrests. It is less specific than '一斉検挙' but still common in crime reports.
麻薬密売人の検挙が行われた。
A dragnet of drug dealers was carried out.
The speaker wants to describe a broad, systematic effort to collect information, data, or people, not necessarily by police.
Literally 'information net', this is the closest metaphorical equivalent to 'dragnet' when referring to gathering information. It implies a network or system for collecting data widely.
彼は広範な情報網を持っている。
He has a wide dragnet for information.
This phrase means 'to cast a wide net for recruiting'. It is used in business contexts when a company is trying to attract many candidates, similar to a dragnet approach.
会社は人材募集の網を広げている。
The company is casting a dragnet for talent.
This means 'to collect comprehensively' or 'to gather exhaustively'. It conveys the idea of a dragnet by emphasizing thoroughness and wide coverage.
彼らはデータを網羅的に集めた。
They gathered data in a dragnet fashion.
This means 'large-scale search' and can be used metaphorically for any extensive search effort, though it is more literal. It is less common as a metaphor than '情報網'.
行方不明者の大規模な捜索が行われた。
A dragnet search for the missing person was conducted.
The speaker wants to refer to the literal fishing equipment called a dragnet.
This is the standard term for a bottom trawl or dragnet used in fishing. It specifically refers to a net dragged along the sea floor.
漁師は底引き網で魚を捕る。
Fishermen catch fish with a dragnet.
This is a loanword from English 'trawl net', commonly used in fishing contexts. It is synonymous with '底引き網' but may sound more technical or modern.
A general term for a dragnet or seine net, but less specific than '底引き網'. It can refer to any net that is pulled through water.
「捜査網」 emphasizes the net-like, ongoing search process, while 「一斉検挙」 focuses on the simultaneous arrest action. Use 「捜査網」 when describing the investigation phase, and 「一斉検挙」 when reporting the arrests.
警察は捜査網を広げたが、一斉検挙には至らなかった。
The police widened their dragnet but did not make mass arrests.
Directly translating 'dragnet' as 「引きずり網」 or 「ドラッグネット」 is unnatural in Japanese. Use the context-appropriate terms provided above.
「引きずり網」という表現は不自然です。
The expression 'hikizuriami' is unnatural.
Dragnet fishing impacts the environment.
Dragnet fishing is a traditional method.