Translation guide
The act of taking something away, usually by authority or as a penalty. In Japanese, the most common and general term is 没収 (ぼっしゅう). Depending on context, other words like 押収 (おうしゅう) for seizure by authorities or 取り上げ (とりあげ) for taking away in everyday situations may be more appropriate.
Expressing the act of officially taking away property, often as a penalty or by legal authority.
The standard term for confiscation in legal, school, and general contexts. Implies taking something away as a penalty or by authority.
先生は授業中にスマホを没収した。
The teacher confiscated the smartphone during class.
税関で偽造品が没収された。
Counterfeit goods were confiscated at customs.
Used specifically for seizure by law enforcement or investigative authorities, such as police confiscating evidence. More formal and legal than 没収.
警察は容疑者のパソコンを押収した。
The police seized the suspect's computer.
Literally 'taking up/away'. Used in everyday situations where someone in authority (parent, teacher) takes something away, often temporarily. Less formal than 没収.
親がゲーム機を取り上げた。
The parent took away the game console.
Referring to confiscation as a formal legal punishment, such as forfeiture of assets.
Also used in legal contexts for forfeiture of property as a penalty. Often appears in compound terms like 没収刑 (confiscation penalty).
裁判所は不正に得た利益の没収を命じた。
The court ordered the confiscation of illegally obtained profits.
A legal term similar to 没収 but less common. Used in specific legal contexts for forfeiture.
没取の判決が下された。
A judgment of forfeiture was handed down.
Describing the act of taking something away from someone, often by a person in a position of authority like a parent or teacher, but not necessarily involving legal procedures.
Verb form of 取り上げ. Commonly used when someone takes an item away, often for disciplinary reasons.
母は私の漫画を取り上げた。
My mom took away my manga.
Verb form of 没収. Can be used in everyday contexts but sounds slightly more formal or serious than 取り上げる.
先生がカンニングペーパーを没収した。
The teacher confiscated the cheat sheet.
Specifically referring to confiscation of goods at borders or by regulatory agencies.
The general term used for customs confiscation.
空港で果物が没収された。
The fruit was confiscated at the airport.
Used when authorities seize items as part of an investigation or enforcement action.
没収 is the most general term for confiscation, used in schools, customs, and legal contexts. 押収 is specifically for seizure by investigative authorities (police, prosecutors) and carries a formal, legal tone. 取り上げ is informal and often used for taking away items in daily life, like a parent taking a toy. Use 没収 when unsure; it's safe in most situations.
没収：先生がゲームを没収した。
The teacher confiscated the game.
押収：警察が証拠品を押収した。
The police seized the evidence.
取り上げ：母がスマホを取り上げた。
Mom took away the smartphone.
In English, 'confiscation' is often used as a noun, but in Japanese, the verb forms (没収する, 押収する, 取り上げる) are more natural in many sentences. Using the noun 没収 is fine in formal writing, but in speech, the verb is preferred.
没収された。
It was confiscated.
税関が密輸品を押収した。
Customs seized the smuggled goods.