How to say "scandal" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe direct equivalent for the general sense: a sensational disgraceful affair that draws intense media and public attention, such as wrongdoing by politicians or celebrities.
- 醜聞しゅうぶんnounA disgraceful affair viewed as sordid and reputation-destroying; the word stresses the shameful nature of the matter and the stain it leaves on those involved.
- 不祥事ふしょうじnounMisconduct or impropriety, especially wrongdoing by a company, organization, or public official; use it when the disgraceful conduct itself is the focus, as in corporate fraud or political corruption.
- 事件じけんnounReally the general word for an incident, affair, or case; it can refer to a scandal as an event or news story, but on its own it carries no sense of disgrace.
- 騒動そうどうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe uproar or outcry a scandal stirs up rather than the wrongdoing itself; choose it when the media storm, public commotion, or heated controversy is what you want to describe.
Use 「スキャンダル」 for the general sense, 醜聞 for a disgraceful affair that stains reputations, 不祥事 for organizational misconduct, 事件 for the incident or case itself, and 騒動 for the uproar a scandal causes.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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