How to say "offence" in Japanese

• 犯罪はんざいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'offence' in the legal sense: an act that breaks the law. Use it for crime in general — committing, preventing, or punishing crimes.
  戦争せんそうは人類じんるいに対たいする犯罪はんざいだ。↗

  War is a crime against humanity.
• 違反いはんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'offence' as a violation or breach of a rule, law, or regulation. It focuses on the breach itself rather than on crime in general.
  相あい次つぐ不祥事ふしょうじにも関かかわらず、警察けいさつはオメオメ違反いはん切符きっぷを切きっている。↗

  Despite their own scandals, the police continue to make arrests as though nothing had happened at all.
• せめJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'offence' as attack — offensive action as opposed to defence, as in sports or combat. It does not refer to legal wrongdoing.
• 犯行はんこうCommon
  nounCovers 'offence' as a specific criminal act — the deed itself rather than crime in general, as when discussing what an offender actually did.
  彼かれは犯行はんこうに及およんだと信しんじられていた。↗

  He was believed to have committed the crime.

Use 犯罪 for crime in the legal sense, 違反 for breaking a rule or law, 「せめ」 for offence as attack opposed to defence, and 犯行 for a specific criminal act rather than crime in general.

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

• 犯罪はんざいcrime
• 違反いはんviolation
• せめattack
• 犯行はんこうcrime
• 罪過ざいかoffence
• オフェンスoffense
• 凶状きょうじょうcrime
• 差し合いさしあいhindrance
• 罪科ざいかoffense
• 忌諱ききdispleasure
• 違犯行為いはんこういviolation
• 攻め手せめてoffense
• 違犯いはんoffense (against the law)
• 侮慢ぶまんcontempt
• 不法行為ふほうこういtort
• 差し障りさしさわりannoyance (to others)