構こう成せい要よう件けん

こ

う

せ

い

よ

う

け

ん

Meanings

1

noun

constituent elements of a crime; actus reus

law›

Legal term referring to the objective external elements that must be proven for a crime to have been committed, as opposed to subjective intent (mens rea).

Kanji

構posture, stance, appearance
成turn into, become, get
要need, main point, essence
件affair, case, matter

Related words

故こ意い
故意 refers to criminal intent (mens rea), the subjective mental state, while 構成要件 refers to the objective external elements of the crime.

Built from

構こう成せい+要よう件けん

Etymology

Compound of 構成 (こうせい, 'composition, structure') and 要件 (ようけん, 'requirement, essential condition'). A direct translation of the legal concept of 'constituent elements'.