Translation guide
The concept of being illegal or unlawful. In Japanese, this is most commonly expressed with nouns like 違法 (ihō) or 不法 (fuhō), often used in compound terms or formal contexts.
Expressing that something is illegal or against the law
The most common and neutral term for 'illegality' or 'illegal act'. Used in legal and everyday contexts.
That act is illegal.
Illegal acts are punishable.
Often used in compounds like 不法侵入 (trespassing) or 不法滞在 (illegal stay). Slightly more formal or legalistic than 違法.
Illegal dumping is a crime.
Means 'illegal' or 'unlawful', often used in political or organized crime contexts. Less common in daily speech.
He obtained money through illegal means.
Referring to the abstract quality or state of illegality
違法 (ihō) is the most general term for 'illegal'. 不法 (fuhō) often appears in set legal terms and implies a violation of law or morality. 非合法 (higōhō) is used for activities that are not legally permitted, often with a nuance of being underground or unlicensed.
違法 is often combined with other nouns to specify the type of illegality, e.g., 違法駐車 (illegal parking), 違法コピー (illegal copy). This is a productive pattern.
The illegality of that act is clear.