Translation guide
The concept of 'detention' in English covers several distinct situations: being held by authorities (like police), being kept after school as punishment, and the general act of holding or delaying someone or something. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese expressions for each.
To refer to a person being taken into custody or held by police, immigration, or other official authorities, often for questioning or as a legal measure.
The standard legal term for detention, often used for short-term holding by police. It implies official custody.
He was detained by the police.
A more specific legal term referring to detention after arrest, often while awaiting trial. Used in formal/legal contexts.
The suspect is in detention.
Literally 'one's person is restrained'. A common phrase for being taken into custody or detained by authorities.
He was detained by immigration authorities.
Refers to detention at a police station (留置場). Often used for the physical place or the act of holding someone there.
He was put in a detention cell.
To refer to the punishment where a student is required to stay at school after normal hours, often in a designated room.
The most common term for school detention. Literally 'staying behind'. Used for both the punishment and the act of staying after school.
I forgot my homework, so I had to stay after school (detention).
Specifically 'detention study' or being kept after school to study as punishment.
Literally 'after-school staying behind'. A clear, descriptive phrase for detention.
To refer to the act of keeping someone or something in a place, often temporarily or against their will, but not necessarily by authorities.
To detain someone by persuading them to stay, or to hold someone back. Often used when you want someone to stay longer.
She detained me for a long time (by talking).
To keep or detain something/someone in a place, often for a specific purpose. Slightly formal.
To restrain or confine. Stronger than 'detain' in casual sense; implies restriction of freedom. Used for physical restraint or official holding.
He was illegally detained.
Both are read こうりゅう and refer to official detention. 拘留 is a broader term for short-term holding by police, while 勾留 is a specific legal term for detention after arrest, often while awaiting trial. In everyday conversation, 拘留 is more common, but in legal contexts, the distinction matters.
The English word 'detention' is sometimes directly borrowed as ディテンション, but this is not widely understood. Use 居残り or 放課後居残り for natural Japanese.
I was ordered to do detention study because I was noisy in class.
The after-school detention was for one hour.
荷物を空港で留め置かれた。
My luggage was detained at the airport.