Translation guide
How to refer to 'the authorities' in Japanese, depending on context: government, police, or people in charge.
Referring to government bodies, regulatory agencies, or official institutions in a general sense.
Formal term for 'the authorities' as an official body, often used in news or official contexts.
The authorities have not yet issued a statement.
Refers to authorities in a legal or enforcement sense, sometimes with a nuance of state power. Can sound slightly dated or literary.
To evade the authorities.
Refers to the administration or executive branch; often used when talking about government services or procedures.
The authorities' response is slow.
Referring specifically to police or investigative agencies.
Referring to those with authority in a specific situation, such as at work, school, or an event.
Means 'person in charge' or 'responsible person'. Use when asking for the person with authority in a specific place.
Please call the authorities (person in charge).
Literally 'person above', a humble way to refer to a superior or person with authority in an organization.
I will check with the authorities (my superior).
Colloquial term for 'the authorities', often with a nuance of government or those in power. Can be slightly old-fashioned or sarcastic.
当局 is a broad, formal term for official authorities, often used in news. 警察 specifically means the police. Use 警察 when the context is clearly about law enforcement.
The authorities are investigating the situation.
The police are patrolling.
Do not directly translate 'the authorities' as 権威者たち (けんいしゃたち) or 権力者たち (けんりょくしゃたち). These sound unnatural and overly literal. Use context-appropriate terms like 当局 or 警察.
Specifically 'investigative authorities', used in news reports about criminal investigations.
The authorities arrested the suspect.
お上の言うことには逆らえない。
You can't go against the authorities.