Translation guide
The English verb 'detain' can mean to hold someone in custody, to delay someone, or to keep someone in a place. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning, from formal police detention to casual delays.
When authorities officially hold someone for questioning or as a suspect.
Formal term for detaining someone in custody, often used in legal contexts.
The police detained the suspect.
Legal term for detention, often used for pre-trial custody.
The judge approved the detention.
Literally 'restrain the person', used for physical detention by authorities.
They detained the perpetrator.
When you cause someone to be late or stay longer than planned.
To stop someone from leaving, often by talking or asking them to stay.
I was detained by a friend and ended up being late.
To cause a delay, more general than 'detain' but can be used for people.
To cause someone to take extra time, implying they were held up by something.
I was detained by traffic.
When someone is made to stay in a location, often against their will or due to circumstances.
To keep someone in a place, often used in formal or written contexts.
He was detained at the hospital.
To lock someone in or confine them, stronger than 'detain'.
Implies physical confinement, may be too strong for simple detention.
To prevent someone from leaving, literally 'stop their feet', often due to weather or circumstances.
We were detained by heavy snow.
Both mean detention, but 勾留 is a stricter legal term for pre-trial custody, while 拘留 is a broader term for holding someone in custody.
The police detained him for 10 days.
The detention period is up to 20 days.
English 'detain' for delays is often translated as 引き止める or 遅らせる. Using 拘留する for a casual delay sounds like an arrest.
Sorry, I was detained for a bit.
会議が私を遅らせた。
The meeting detained me.
Don't detain the child in the room.