Translation guide
A person who cheats others out of money by gaining their trust through deception.
The most common and direct way to refer to a con man in Japanese.
The standard word for a con man or swindler. Used in news and everyday conversation.
He's a con man.
I was tricked by a con man and lost all my savings.
A slightly old-fashioned but still common word for a swindler or con artist. Often implies a smooth-talking trickster.
Watch out for that con man.
Terms for con men who use particular methods or operate in specific contexts.
A marriage con artist; someone who deceives others into marriage or romantic relationships for financial gain.
She was a marriage con artist.
A perpetrator of 'furikome' fraud (bank transfer scams), a common type of con in Japan where victims are tricked into transferring money.
A land swindler; a con man who sells land they don't own, often using forged documents. A historical term still used in crime contexts.
Phrases and verbs to describe the actions of a con man, rather than the person.
The English phrase 'con man' does not have a direct word-for-word equivalent in Japanese. Using 詐欺師 (sagishi) is the closest and most natural translation. Avoid trying to translate 'con' and 'man' separately.
The con man behind the bank transfer scam was caught.
地面師による大規模な詐欺事件が発覚した。
A large-scale fraud case by a land swindler came to light.