Translation guide
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency. In Japanese, it is almost always referred to by its English abbreviation, エフビーアイ (FBI), or the full translated name. This entry covers how to refer to the FBI in Japanese, including common abbreviations, formal names, and contextual usage.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Formal Japanese translation.
How to say 'Federal Bureau of Investigation' or 'FBI' in Japanese
The most common way to refer to the FBI in Japanese is the English abbreviation 'FBI', written in Latin letters or sometimes in katakana as エフビーアイ. It is widely understood, especially in news and media.
The FBI has launched an investigation.
He is an FBI agent.
This is the formal Japanese translation of 'Federal Bureau of Investigation'. It is used in official contexts, news reports, and legal documents, but less common in everyday conversation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is strengthening counterterrorism measures.
Katakana rendering of 'FBI'. Often used in spoken Japanese or when writing in kana-only contexts. It is interchangeable with the Latin-letter 'FBI'.
An FBI agent visited Japan.
In Japanese, it is perfectly natural to use 'FBI' (often pronounced エフビーアイ) in both formal and informal contexts. The full translated name 連邦捜査局 is mainly used in official documents or when introducing the term for the first time.