Translation guide
A large-scale organized search for a person, often a criminal or fugitive.
The speaker wants to refer to a large-scale, often police-led, search for a wanted person.
General term for a search, often used in the context of police searching for a missing person or criminal. Can be combined with other words to specify a manhunt.
Literally 'criminal search', this is a direct and common way to say 'manhunt' in Japanese.
犯人捜索が続いている。
The manhunt is ongoing.
Means 'search for a fugitive'. More specific than 犯人捜索, emphasizing that the person is on the run.
逃亡犯の捜索に多くの警官が動員された。
Many officers were mobilized for the manhunt for the fugitive.
Means 'pursuit' or 'chase'. Can be used when the manhunt involves actively chasing the person.
Literally 'big search', used for a large-scale manhunt, often seen in news headlines.
山岳地帯で大捜索が行われた。
A massive manhunt was conducted in the mountainous area.
The speaker refers to a manhunt as a news story or public drama.
Literally 'escape drama', this term captures the dramatic, often media-covered aspect of a manhunt. It focuses on the fugitive's flight and the chase.
犯人の逃走劇は全国で報道された。
The fugitive's manhunt was reported nationwide.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'manhunt'. Avoid literal translations like 人間狩り (にんげんがり), which means hunting humans in a literal, often violent sense, and is not used for police searches.
犯人捜索 specifically means searching for a criminal, while 捜索 is a broader term for any search (e.g., for a missing person, lost item). Use 犯人捜索 when the target is clearly a criminal.
犯人捜索は3日間続いた。
The manhunt lasted for three days.
大規模な捜索が行われている。
A massive manhunt is underway.
警察は大規模な捜索を行った。
The police conducted a large-scale search.
容疑者の追跡が始まった。
The pursuit of the suspect began.
Similar to 逃走劇 but emphasizes the pursuit side. Often used for car chases or dramatic police pursuits.
警察と犯人の追跡劇がテレビで生中継された。
The manhunt between the police and the criminal was broadcast live on TV.