Translation guide
The English word 'informant' can refer to a person who provides information, often in contexts like journalism, law enforcement, or research. In Japanese, the translation depends heavily on the context and the informant's relationship to the information provider.
A person who secretly gives information to the police or an intelligence agency, often about criminal activity.
A general and neutral term for an informant, literally 'information provider'. Used in official contexts.
警察は情報提供者から重要な手がかりを得た。
The police obtained an important clue from an informant.
Specifically a person who informs on others, often with a negative connotation of betrayal. Used for whistleblowers or snitches.
彼は密告者として組織に潜入した。
He infiltrated the organization as an informant.
An insider who secretly communicates with an outside party, often in espionage or betrayal contexts.
内通者が敵に情報を流した。
The informant leaked information to the enemy.
Loanword for 'spy', used when the informant is engaged in espionage. More specific than general informant.
彼は二重スパイとして活動していた。
He was working as a double agent (informant).
A person who provides information to a journalist or researcher, often as a source for a story or study.
Same as above, but also the standard term in journalism and research for a source.
記者は匿名の情報提供者から内部文書を受け取った。
The reporter received internal documents from an anonymous informant.
Specifically a news source; used in journalism for a person who provides information for a story.
取材源の秘匿は報道の自由にとって重要だ。
Protecting informants (news sources) is important for freedom of the press.
A person who informs on fellow criminals to the authorities, often for personal gain.
Slang term for a snitch or informer, often used in police or yakuza contexts. Casual and somewhat derogatory.
あいつはタレコミ屋だ。信用するな。
That guy is an informant. Don't trust him.
Another slang term for a snitch, with a nuance of tattling or squealing. Often used by children or in casual talk.
チクリ屋が警察に通報した。
The informant tipped off the police.
As above, but can be used in criminal contexts with a strong sense of betrayal.
密告者は組織から消された。
The informant was eliminated by the organization.
Directly translating 'informant' as インフォーマント is only appropriate in very specific academic contexts. In most situations, use 情報提供者 or a context-specific term.
情報提供者 is neutral and can be used in official or professional settings. 密告者 implies secrecy and often betrayal, so it carries a negative connotation. Choose based on the nuance you want to convey.
Loanword from English, used in academic or linguistic fieldwork contexts for a native speaker who provides language data.
言語学者はインフォーマントから方言のデータを収集した。
The linguist collected dialect data from an informant.