Translation guide
Describes a death caused by external factors such as accident, violence, or suicide, rather than natural causes. In Japanese, this concept is often expressed through specific terms used in legal, medical, or news contexts.
The broad concept of a death not due to natural causes, used in news or general discussion.
The most common and general term for an unnatural or suspicious death. Often used in news reports.
The police are investigating the identity of a man found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Literally 'abnormal death', used in medical or statistical contexts to refer to deaths from external causes.
The rate of unnatural deaths is increasing in this region.
A death classified as resulting from injury, poisoning, or other external factors, often used in official reports.
Medical/legal term for death due to external causes (accident, suicide, homicide).
The cause of death was determined to be unnatural.
A death that is being investigated because foul play is suspected.
Used when a death is considered suspicious and possibly involving a crime. Common in police and news contexts.
There has been a series of suspicious deaths of men in apartments.
A death caused by an accident, not natural causes or intentional harm.
Specifically refers to death by accident. Very common in news and everyday speech.
Deaths from traffic accidents are decreasing.
変死 is a broader term for any unnatural death, while 不審死 specifically implies suspicion of foul play and is often used in criminal investigations.
The direct translation '不自然な死' is not idiomatic and sounds unnatural. Use the specific terms above depending on context.