How to say "defendant" in Japanese

• 被告ひこくCommon
  nounThe defendant in a civil lawsuit — the party against whom a claim is brought. It also serves as the broader word for a defendant in legal contexts.
  被告ひこくは無罪むざいになった。↗

  The accused was found not guilty.
• 被告人ひこくにんCommon
  nounThe accused in a criminal case: a person formally charged with a crime and standing trial. The gloss 'prisoner at the bar' reflects this courtroom sense.
  被告人ひこくにんは容疑ようぎのうち２つについては無罪むざいとなった。↗

  The accused was acquitted on two of the charges.

被告 is the broader word for a defendant and the term used in civil suits, while 被告人 refers specifically to the accused in a criminal trial, as its gloss 'prisoner at the bar' suggests.

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

• 被告ひこくdefendant
• 被告人ひこくにんaccused
• 刑事被告人けいじひこくにんaccused