How to say "testament" in Japanese

• 遺言ゆいごんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers 'testament' in the legal sense of a will and one's dying wishes. This is the word you want when talking about how someone's estate is disposed of after death.
  彼かれは遺言ゆいごんで妻つまに全ぜん財産ざいさんを残のこした。↗

  He left all his property to his wife in his will.
• 証あかしJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounMatches 'testament (to something)', the figurative sense, as in something being a testament to someone's skill or effort. As a standalone noun it also means proof, evidence or testimony.
  しかし、あなた方かたは私わたしたちの証あかしを受け入うけいれません。↗

  But still you people do not accept our testimony.
• 遺書いしょCommon
  nounMeans a written note left by a dead person, especially a suicide note, and only secondarily a testamentary letter. For 'testament' as a will, 遺言 is usually the better choice.
  叔父おじは去年きょねん遺書いしょを作つくった。↗

  My uncle made a will last year.

For a legal will or dying wishes use 遺言, for a written document left at death such as a suicide note use 遺書, and for the figurative 'testament to something' use 証.

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

• 遺言ゆいごんwill
• 証あかしproof
• 遺書いしょnote left by a dead person
• テスタメントtestament
• 遺言書ゆいごんしょwill
• 遺言状ゆいごんじょうwill
• ウイルwill