prison sentence without suspension; actual imprisonment
Refers to a prison term that must be served, as opposed to a suspended sentence (執行猶予). Common in legal and news reporting.
被告に実刑判決が下された。
The defendant was given a prison sentence without suspension.
初犯だったので実刑は免れた。
Since it was a first offense, he avoided actual imprisonment.
The court sentenced the defendant to actual imprisonment.
He received an actual prison sentence for fraud.
The appeal was dismissed and the prison sentence became final.
Because it was a first offense, he avoided actual imprisonment.