Translation guide
A person who commits rape. In Japanese, the most common and direct term is 強姦犯, but other expressions exist depending on context, formality, and legal usage.
The police arrested the rapist.
Common in media and casual conversation. Uses the loanword 'rape' plus 'criminal'.
That rapist hasn't been caught yet.
Literally 'rape demon'. Used in sensational media or fiction to emphasize the monstrous nature of the perpetrator. Not used in formal or legal contexts.
He is known as a serial rapist.
To refer to a rapist in legal documents, court proceedings, or formal reports.
The legal term under current Japanese law (since 2017). 'Forcible sexual intercourse crime perpetrator'. Used in legal contexts.
The rapist was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The older legal term (before 2017). Still sometimes used in historical or older legal contexts.
To refer to the person who committed rape in a particular case, often without labeling them as a 'rapist' in general.
Literally 'the criminal man'. Used when the gender is known and the crime is understood from context. Common in news reports.
The rapist fled the scene.
General term for 'perpetrator' or 'offender'. Used when the specific crime is clear from context, often in discussions of victim support.
When discussing a specific case, Japanese often uses more indirect terms like 犯人 (criminal) or 加害者 (perpetrator) rather than explicitly saying 'rapist'. This can be more natural and less sensational.
強姦犯 is the native Japanese term and is standard in formal writing. レイプ犯 is a loanword-based term common in casual speech and tabloid media. Both are widely understood, but 強姦犯 is preferred in serious contexts.
Under the old criminal law, rapists received lighter sentences.
被害者は加害者と対面することを拒んだ。
The victim refused to face the rapist.