How to say "lawsuit" in Japanese

• 訴訟そしょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe straightforward, formal word for a lawsuit or litigation, i.e. legal action taken through the courts. Typical in news reports and legal writing, as in filing or settling a suit.
  その訴訟そしょうの判事はんじは公平こうへいではなかった。↗

  The judge in the case was not fair.
• 訴えうったえJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA lawsuit or complaint viewed as the plaintiff's formal legal claim brought against someone. Slightly less formal-sounding than 訴訟, and also the noun from 訴える 'to sue'.
  この訴うったえを退しりぞけたくはない。↗

  I do not want to reject this claim.

Use 訴訟 for lawsuits in the formal legal sense of court proceedings; 「訴え」 also means a lawsuit or complaint, especially a plaintiff's formal claim brought before a court.

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

• 訴訟そしょうlawsuit
• 訴えうったえlawsuit
• 訴訟事件そしょうじけんlawsuit
• 相論そうろんdebate
• 裁判沙汰さいばんざたmatter for the court
• 訴訟沙汰そしょうざたmatter for the court