Translation guide
How to refer to a person who is being sought, typically by authorities or in a search context.
Referring to a criminal suspect or fugitive being sought by law enforcement.
Referring to someone who is missing or being looked for, not necessarily a criminal.
General term for a person who is being searched for, such as a missing person or someone lost in a disaster.
捜索中の人はまだ見つかっていません。
The person being searched for has not been found yet.
Describing a person featured on a wanted poster or public notice.
The person shown in a wanted photo. Common in police bulletins.
手配写真の人物を見かけたら通報してください。
If you see the person in the wanted photo, please report it.
The English phrase 'wanted person' can sound unnatural if directly translated as 欲しい人 (hoshii hito), which means 'a person I want' in a romantic or desiring sense. Use the context-appropriate terms above.
Standard term for a suspect who has been formally named and is wanted by police. Used in news and official contexts.
警察は指名手配犯の行方を追っている。
The police are tracking the whereabouts of the wanted person.
A person who is currently being sought by police. Slightly more formal and often used in written reports.
手配中の人物に関する情報を求めています。
We are seeking information regarding the wanted person.
Historical or dramatic term for a wanted fugitive, often used in period dramas or novels. Not used in modern police contexts.
彼は江戸時代のお尋ね者だった。
He was a wanted person in the Edo period.
Specifically a missing person. Often used in news reports about disappearances.
行方不明者の家族は必死で情報を集めている。
The family of the missing person is desperately gathering information.