刑事
Meanings
1
detective; police detective
Refers to a police officer who investigates crimes. Often used in news and fiction.
The detective arrived at the scene.
He is a detective with the Metropolitan Police Department.
2
noun, noun-modifying (irregular)
criminal matter; criminal case
Used in legal or formal contexts to refer to a criminal affair, as opposed to a civil matter (民事). Often appears in compounds like 刑事事件 (criminal case).
This is a criminal matter, not a civil one.
There is a possibility of being held criminally responsible.
Usage patterns
- 刑事になるto become a detective
After years of effort, he became a detective.
- 刑事責任を負うto bear criminal responsibility
The company ended up bearing criminal responsibility for the accident.
- 刑事が〈事件〉を捜査するa detective investigates a case
The detective is investigating that murder case.
- 刑事訴訟を起こすto file a criminal lawsuit
The prosecution filed a criminal lawsuit.