Translation guide
How to talk about police questioning in Japanese, from casual street stops to formal interrogations.
The most common, neutral way to refer to police questioning, such as when police ask for information or interview someone.
How to say you were questioned by the police, emphasizing the experience from the citizen's perspective.
Natural way to say 'the police asked me about the situation'. Uses passive form.
When the questioning is harsh, prolonged, or aimed at extracting a confession.
When police ask for voluntary cooperation, like a witness interview.
事情聴取 is a neutral fact-finding interview. 取り調べ is a formal interrogation of a suspect, often at a police station. 職務質問 is a street stop where police ask for ID and purpose; it's not an arrest.
The police are questioning a suspect.
The interrogation continued until late at night.
Police stop-and-question on the street. The officer asks for ID and purpose. Very common in daily life.
I was stopped and questioned by the police on the street at night.
Yesterday, the police questioned me about what happened.
To undergo police interrogation. More formal and implies a suspect or person of interest.
He was interrogated by the police.
To be stopped and questioned on the street. Casual passive form.
I got stopped and questioned by the police in front of the station.
Formal interrogation, often by police or prosecutors. Can imply a grilling.
The suspect underwent a harsh interrogation.
Intense interrogation. Emphasizes the severity.
The police conducted an intense interrogation.
The police conducted a voluntary interview with the witness.
To question someone as a material witness (not a suspect). Common in police contexts.
The police questioned him as a material witness.
After the incident, neighbors were questioned by the police.
The suspect was interrogated in the interrogation room.
I was stopped and questioned late at night and showed my ID.
尋問 sounds very harsh and is often associated with courtroom cross-examination or intense interrogation. It can imply the person is being grilled. Use 事情聴取 for neutral questioning.
I was stopped and questioned by the police last night.
The witness gave a statement during police questioning.