Translation guide
The state of being confined in prison or the act of putting someone in prison. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns like 投獄 (tougoku) or 収監 (shuukan), and verbs like 投獄する (tougoku suru) or 収監する (shuukan suru). The choice depends on formality and context.
To express the action of imprisoning someone, often in legal or formal contexts.
The most common and general term for imprisonment. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
He was incarcerated for murder.
A more formal term, often used in legal or official documents. Implies confinement in a prison or detention facility.
The judge ordered the incarceration of the defendant.
Refers specifically to detention before trial or during investigation. Not used for post-conviction imprisonment.
The suspect was transferred to a detention center.
To describe the condition of being imprisoned, often focusing on the experience or duration.
Means 'in prison' or 'during imprisonment'. Often used in phrases like 獄中生活 (prison life) or 獄中記 (prison memoirs).
He read many books during his incarceration.
Refers to serving a prison sentence. Often used as a verb (服役する) to mean 'serve time'.
Literally 'during incarceration'. Used in formal contexts to indicate that someone is currently imprisoned.
To discuss the social phenomenon of large-scale imprisonment, often in political or sociological contexts.
投獄 is the most common and versatile term for imprisonment. 収監 is more formal and often appears in legal contexts. For everyday conversation, 投獄 is preferred.
He was incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit.
I visited the incarcerated defendant.
English often uses 'incarceration' as an abstract noun, but Japanese prefers verbal expressions or specific nouns. Instead of saying 'incarceration is a problem', use '投獄されること' or rephrase with a verb.
Incarceration hinders rehabilitation.
彼は5年間服役した。
He served five years of incarceration.
The rights of incarcerated prisoners became an issue.
Excessive incarceration emphasizes punishment over rehabilitation.