How to say "criticism" in Japanese

• 批判ひはんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe general-purpose word for criticism: pointing out faults or problems, or judging something critically. When you just mean 'criticism' — of a policy, a person's conduct, society — this is usually the word you want.
  彼かれの批判ひはんは非常ひじょうに厳きびしかった。↗

  His criticisms were very severe.
• 非難ひなんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCriticism as blame or censure: strong disapproval directed at a person or an act, condemning rather than evaluating. Choose it when 'criticism' means reproach or denunciation, not balanced assessment.
  彼かれはその男性だんせいが盗ぬすみを働はたらいたことを非難ひなんした。↗

  He blamed the man for stealing.
• 評論ひょうろんJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCriticism as a written genre: critical essays, commentary and reviews discussing literature, art, film or social issues in depth. Use it for 'criticism' in the sense of critical commentary rather than fault-finding.
  芸術家げいじゅつかは時ときには評論ひょうろんを軽蔑けいべつすることがある。↗

  Some artists are contemptuous of criticism.
• 批評ひひょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCriticism as evaluation of a work: judging the merits and faults of literature, art or a performance, as in a critique or review. Close to 評論, but centred on assessing the work itself.
  音楽家おんがくかは一般いっぱんに批評ひひょうに敏感びんかんである。↗

  Musicians are usually sensitive to criticism.
• 評ひょうCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)A critical assessment, commentary or review, but on its own this is seldom the word you want: it mostly appears inside set expressions, so use 批判 or 批評 for ordinary 'criticism'.

Use 批判 for critical judgement or fault-finding, 非難 for blame and censure, 批評 and 評論 for critique and review of works, and treat 評 as mostly confined to set expressions.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 批判ひはんcriticism
• 非難ひなんcriticism
• 評論ひょうろんcriticism
• 批評ひひょうcriticism
• 評ひょうcriticism
• 講評こうひょうcriticism (by a teacher or coach, with commentary, especially at a poetry reading)
• 論評ろんぴょうcomment
• 品評ひんぴょうestimation
• 品定めしなさだめevaluation
• 指弾しだんcriticism
• クリティシズムcriticism
• 誹議ひぎcriticism
• 論詰ろんきつcriticism
• 論難ろんなんcriticism
• そしりcensure
• 褒貶ほうへんpraise and censure
• 弁難べんなんdenunciation
• 攻撃こうげきcriticism
• 云々うんぬんcomment
• 評説ひょうせつcomment
• 難なんcriticism