Translation guide
How to talk about police questioning in Japanese, from casual street stops to formal interrogations.
The most common, neutral way to refer to police questioning, such as when police ask for information or interview someone.
Standard term for police questioning to gather facts. Used in news and formal contexts.
警察は容疑者に事情聴取を行った。
The police conducted questioning of the suspect.
Refers to a formal interrogation, often of a suspect. More serious than 事情聴取.
How to say you were questioned by the police, emphasizing the experience from the citizen's perspective.
Natural way to say 'the police asked me about the situation'. Uses passive form.
昨日、警察に事情を聞かれた。
Yesterday, the police questioned me about what happened.
To undergo police interrogation. More formal and implies a suspect or person of interest.
彼は警察の取り調べを受けた。
He was interrogated by the police.
To be stopped and questioned on the street. Casual passive form.
駅前で職務質問された。
I got stopped and questioned by the police in front of the station.
When the questioning is harsh, prolonged, or aimed at extracting a confession.
Formal interrogation, often by police or prosecutors. Can imply a grilling.
容疑者は厳しい尋問を受けた。
The suspect underwent a harsh interrogation.
Intense interrogation. Emphasizes the severity.
警察は厳しい取り調べを行った。
The police conducted an intense interrogation.
When police ask for voluntary cooperation, like a witness interview.
Voluntary questioning. The person is not under arrest and can leave.
警察は目撃者に任意の事情聴取をした。
The police conducted a voluntary interview with the witness.
To question someone as a material witness (not a suspect). Common in police contexts.
警察は彼を参考人として話を聞いた。
The police questioned him as a material witness.
事情聴取 is a neutral fact-finding interview. 取り調べ is a formal interrogation of a suspect, often at a police station. 職務質問 is a street stop where police ask for ID and purpose; it's not an arrest.
事件の後、近所の人が事情聴取を受けた。
After the incident, neighbors were questioned by the police.
容疑者は取り調べ室で取り調べを受けた。
The suspect was interrogated in the interrogation room.
夜遅くに職務質問されて、身分証を見せた。
I was stopped and questioned late at night and showed my ID.
尋問 sounds very harsh and is often associated with courtroom cross-examination or intense interrogation. It can imply the person is being grilled. Use 事情聴取 for neutral questioning.
警察が容疑者を取り調べている。
The police are questioning a suspect.
昨夜、警察に職務質問された。
I was stopped and questioned by the police last night.
目撃者は事情聴取で証言した。
The witness gave a statement during police questioning.
取り調べは深夜まで続いた。
The interrogation continued until late at night.
Police stop-and-question on the street. The officer asks for ID and purpose. Very common in daily life.
夜道で職務質問を受けた。
I was stopped and questioned by the police on the street at night.