禁錮・禁固|きんこkinko[1]atamadaka (head-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
禁錮禁錮 is the more common written form, and it is written entirely in kanji.
禁固禁固 is a less common written variant of 禁錮, so learners will encounter it less often.
Definitions
- noun, suru verbimprisonment (without forced labour); incarceration; confinement
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 禁錮する（きんこする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 禁錮します（きんこします） |
| Negative (nai) | 禁錮しない（きんこしない） |
| polite (masen) | 禁錮しません（きんこしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 禁錮せず・禁錮せぬ（きんこせず・きんこせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 禁錮した（きんこした） |
| polite (mashita) | 禁錮しました（きんこしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 禁錮しなかった（きんこしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 禁錮しませんでした（きんこしませんでした） |
| Te form | 禁錮して（きんこして） |
| Potential | 禁錮できる（きんこできる） |
| Passive | 禁錮される（きんこされる） |
| Causative | 禁錮させる（きんこさせる） |
| Causative passive | 禁錮させられる（きんこさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 禁錮すれば（きんこすれば） |
| tara | 禁錮したら（きんこしたら） |
| Volitional | 禁錮しよう（きんこしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 禁錮しましょう（きんこしましょう） |
| Imperative | 禁錮しろ（きんこしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym監禁かんきんWrittenA written word for confining people somewhere against their will, often unlawful confinement; 「禁錮」 is the name of a penalty served without forced labour.
- Synonym拘禁こうきんFormalA formal term for holding and confining a person; it covers both lawful custody and unlawful confinement, while 「禁錮」 is a specific penalty name.
- Synonym収監しゅうかんFormalA formal term for placing someone in prison once the sentence is final; 「禁錮」 is a type of penalty.
- Synonym投獄とうごくWrittenA written word for putting someone behind prison walls; 「禁錮」 is a type of penalty.
- Related幽閉ゆうへいWrittenA written word for shutting someone up in a closed space, with a historical flavour; 「禁錮」 is a penalty under the law.
- Related留置りゅうちFormalA formal term for holding people or things: police detaining suspects, or impounding items, as in 「留置場」; 「禁錮」 is a penalty imposed after sentencing.
- Related留め置きとめおきNeutralA neutral, everyday word for holding or retaining things, or mail held at the post office; 「禁錮」 is a penalty.
- Related拘留こうりゅうFormalA formal term for a minor penalty of one day to under thirty days, and for detention in general; 「禁錮」 carries longer terms.
- Related禁足きんそくNeutralA neutral word for forbidding someone to leave, e.g. as temple discipline; 「禁錮」 is a penalty under criminal law.
- Related拘束こうそくNeutralA neutral word for physically restraining someone, or for rules restricting freedom, as in 「身柄拘束」; 「禁錮」 is the name of a penalty.
- Related拘置こうちFormalA formal term for holding suspects, defendants or convicted inmates, as in 「拘置所」; 「禁錮」 is the name of a penalty imposed after sentencing.
- Related抑留よくりゅうFormalA formal term for detaining foreign nationals or ships, also short-term physical restraint; 「禁錮」 is a penalty fixed by a final sentence.
- Related勾留こうりゅうFormalA formal legal term for detaining a suspect or defendant to prevent flight or destruction of evidence; 「禁錮」 is a penalty imposed after sentencing.
- Antonym解放かいほうNeutralA neutral word for freeing someone from restraint; it stands opposite to 「禁錮」 in the pair confinement versus liberation.
- Antonym釈放しゃくほうFormalA formal term for releasing someone in custody; it stands opposite to 「禁錮」 in the pair confinement versus release.
「禁錮」 is the penalty of imprisonment without forced labour, as in 「禁錮三年」; from 2025 it merges with 「懲役」 into 「拘禁刑」. Use 「監禁」 for confining someone and restricting their freedom, 「勾留」 for holding a suspect or defendant in custody during criminal proceedings, and 「釈放」 for release, its opposite.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
