Translation guide
How to refer to someone who is not who they claim to be, from casual accusations to formal fraud.
To call out or describe someone who is faking their identity, often in everyday or dramatic situations.
Literally 'fake thing', but commonly used for a person who is a fraud or impostor. Slightly colloquial and direct.
That guy is an impostor.
He was an impostor pretending to be a doctor.
Specifically a con artist or swindler. Implies intentional deception for gain, not just identity theft.
I found out he's a con artist.
Impersonation, especially online or in digital contexts. Often used for account hijacking or catfishing.
I was a victim of impersonation on social media.
Describing a person who has secretly joined a team, organization, or game while hiding their true identity or intentions.
Spy. Commonly used in games like Among Us or in espionage contexts. Natural for an infiltrator.
That player might be an impostor.
Mole, inside informant. Someone who has infiltrated a group to leak information. More serious than a game context.
There seems to be an impostor in the organization.
Used in official, legal, or news contexts to describe someone who commits identity fraud.
Legal term for someone who misrepresents their identity, qualifications, or status. Formal and precise.
He was arrested as an impostor for misrepresenting himself as a doctor.
Similar to 詐称者 but less common. Also means someone who uses a false name or title.
The impostor had forged identification documents.
Expressing the psychological feeling of being a fraud despite evident success or competence.
Direct loanword for 'impostor syndrome'. Widely understood in psychological and self-help contexts.
She suffers from impostor syndrome.
A more descriptive phrase: 'to feel like a fake'. Natural in casual conversation.
The English word 'impostor' does not have a single perfect Japanese equivalent. Using 偽物 for a person is common but can sound blunt. Choose based on context: fraud (詐欺師), impersonation (なりすまし), or infiltrator (スパイ).
Even when I succeed, I sometimes feel like an impostor.