首しゅ謀ぼう

noun

plotting; masterminding; planning a crime or intrigue

Formal noun for taking the leading role in planning a crime, rebellion, intrigue, or other wrongful scheme. Often appears in news or legal language with nouns such as 犯行, 事件, 反乱, or クーデター.

• 彼かれはクーデターの首しゅ謀ぼうに関かかわった疑うたがいで逮たい捕ほされた。

  He was arrested on suspicion of being involved in masterminding the coup.

• 検けん察さつは犯はん行こうの首しゅ謀ぼうの経けい緯いを詳くわしく調しらべている。

  The prosecutors are investigating in detail how the crime was planned.

noun

ringleader; mastermind; leader of a plot

Refers to the person at the center of a plot or organized wrongdoing. 首謀者 is the fuller and often more explicit person noun, but 首謀 itself can be used predicatively or in apposition.

See also: 首謀者

• 警けい察さつは彼かれを一いち連れんの詐さ欺ぎ事じ件けんの首しゅ謀ぼうとみている。

  The police regard him as the mastermind behind the series of fraud cases.

• 反はん乱らんの首しゅ謀ぼうは国こく外がいへ逃とう亡ぼうしたと報ほうじられた。

  It was reported that the ringleader of the rebellion had fled abroad.