How to say "custody" in Japanese

• 保管ほかんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCustody in the sense of safekeeping: keeping documents, valuables, or deposits safe while they remain in one's charge. It applies to things, not to child custody or police custody.
  領収書りょうしゅうしょは必かならず保管ほかんしてください。↗

  Make sure you save the receipt.
• 親権しんけんCommon
  nounChild custody: a parent's legal authority over and rights concerning a child, the word used when deciding custody in a divorce. It never refers to custody of objects or detainees.
• 拘留こうりゅうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCustody of a person held by the authorities: detention, as in being kept in police custody during an investigation or while awaiting trial. It is not used for safekeeping of things.
  警官けいかんは彼かれを拘留こうりゅうした。↗

  The police held him in custody.
• 預けあずけCommon
  nounCustody as keeping or checking in items handed over to another party, bags being the typical case. For the safekeeping of valuables or documents, 保管 is the word you want.
  お預あずけになる荷物にもつはございますか。↗

  Do you have any bags to check?
• 拘禁こうきんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCustody as confinement: detaining or interning people, physically holding them in. Like 拘留 it concerns persons held by the authorities, and it also covers internment.

Choose by what is held: 保管 and 「預け」 are custody of things, 親権 is the child-custody term, and 拘留 and 拘禁 mean holding a person in detention or confinement.

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

• 保管ほかんcharge
• 親権しんけんparental authority
• 拘留こうりゅうcustody
• 預けあずけcustody
• 拘禁こうきんdetention
• 保護ほごprotection
• 留置りゅうちdetention (usu. during investigation)
• 監守かんしゅcustody
• 勾留こうりゅうdetention pending trial
• 勾引こういんarrest
• 引致いんちarrest
• 検束けんそくarrest
• 身柄拘束みがらこうそくphysical restraint (e.g. by police)