How to say "infringement" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 侵害しんがいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe default word for infringement of rights and interests — copyright, patents, privacy and the like; the nuance is encroaching on what belongs to someone else.
- 抵触ていしょくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbInfringement of a law or treaty: an act that comes into conflict with the provision, running afoul of it; the nuance is clashing with the rule rather than violating a right.
- 侵犯しんぱんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbViolation or invasion of foreign territory, rights and the like, with a strong sense of intrusion; for ordinary infringement of someone's rights, 侵害 is usually the word you want.
- 違反いはんnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbReally 'violation' or 'breach' — breaking a rule, law or regulation; for infringement of rights in the sense of encroaching on them this is not the word you want.
- 反則はんそくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA breach or infraction of rules or regulations — the word for a foul or rule violation in a game or sport; like 違反, it is about rule-breaking, not infringement of rights.
Use 侵害 for infringement of rights or interests; 抵触 for acts that conflict with a law or treaty; 侵犯 for invasion of territory or rights; 違反 and 反則 are really violations or breaches of rules, not rights-infringement.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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