Translation guide
How to express 'snitch' in Japanese, covering the act of informing on someone, the person who does it, and related slang.
The act of telling an authority figure about someone's wrongdoing, often with a negative connotation.
Neutral/formal term for informing on someone, often to authorities. Can be used in serious contexts like crime reporting.
He snitched to the police.
Very common casual/slang verb for snitching, especially among kids or in informal settings. Carries a negative, tattletale nuance.
Don't snitch to the teacher.
That guy snitched.
To tattle or tell on someone, often used for minor misdeeds. Common in school or workplace contexts.
She snitched to the boss.
Means 'to betray'. Can be used when someone breaks trust by informing on others, though it's broader than just snitching.
He betrayed his friends and talked to the police.
To tip off or inform on someone, often anonymously. Used in crime/police contexts.
He snitched to the police anonymously.
Referring to someone who informs on others, often used as a derogatory label.
Formal term for an informant or whistleblower. Neutral but can be negative depending on context.
He's known as a snitch.
Slang for a habitual snitch or tattletale, often used by children. '-魔' adds a sense of being a 'demon' for that trait.
That kid is a snitch.
A tattletale, literally 'tell-tale shop'. Casual and somewhat childish.
Snitches are disliked.
Loanword from English, used in subcultures familiar with hip-hop or prison slang. Not widely understood.
He's a snitch.
Using 'snitch' to mean stealing something, often sneakily.
Directly translating 'snitch' as スニッチ is not common and may not be understood. Use チクる or 密告する for the verb, and チクリ魔 or 密告者 for the noun, depending on formality.
チクる is casual and often used among friends or children, carrying a tattletale nuance. 密告する is formal and used for serious informing, like reporting a crime. Choose based on context.
He snitched my idea.