How to say "subpoena" in Japanese

• 召喚しょうかんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe common, general term for a summons or subpoena — the act or order of summoning someone to appear; it also covers a citation. For the written document itself, 召喚状 is the usual word.
  彼かれは証言しょうげんをするために召喚しょうかんされた。↗

  He was called to give evidence.
• 召喚状しょうかんじょう
  nounThe written document itself — a subpoena or writ of summons ordering someone to appear in court; choose this when you mean the paper that is served, not the act of summoning.
• 証人喚問しょうにんかんもん
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe summoning of a sworn witness to give testimony, in court or before the Diet; it names the act, not the document, so it suits 'to subpoena a witness' rather than the paper itself.
  証人しょうにん喚問かんもんはとんだ騒さわぎになってしまいました。↗

  The confirmation hearings turned into a free-for-all.
• 呼び出し状よびだしじょう
  nounA written summons calling someone to appear; it can amount to a subpoena, but for a formal court document 召喚状 is the usual word, so this is often not the best choice there.
• 出頭命令しゅっとうめいれい
  nounAn order to appear, stressing the command itself rather than a document; it matches 'subpoena' when you mean the order that someone show up, not the paper served on them.

Use 召喚 for the act of summoning and 召喚状 for the written subpoena; 証人喚問 is specifically the summoning of a witness, while 「呼び出し状」 and 出頭命令 are broader notices or orders to appear.

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

• 召喚しょうかんsummons
• 召喚状しょうかんじょう(writ of) summons
• 証人喚問しょうにんかんもんsummoning of a sworn witness (court, Diet)
• 呼び出し状よびだしじょう(writ of) summons
• 出頭命令しゅっとうめいれいsummons