証拠|しょうこshouko[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounevidence; proof
   この証拠しょうこは彼かれにとって不利ふりだった。↗

   This evidence was against him.

• Synonym証あかしNeutralProof or a token; more literary than 「証拠」 and favoured for a symbolic sign of one's feelings, as in 「愛の証」.
• Synonym根拠こんきょNeutralThe grounds or basis behind a claim; stresses the foundation of an argument rather than the evidence itself.
• Synonym裏付けうらづけNeutralCorroboration that backs up or confirms something, as in 「裏付け捜査」; the word stresses the act of substantiating a claim or account.
• Synonym証左しょうさWrittenWritten word for evidence or corroboration, as in 「何よりの証左」; at home in formal argument and written prose.
• Synonym信証しんしょうWrittenWritten word for a voucher or proof; rare in modern Japanese — say 「証拠」 in everyday contexts.
• Synonym明証めいしょうWrittenWritten word for clear, unmistakable evidence; rare today — say 「証拠」 in daily use.
• Related証明しょうめいNeutralThe act or process of proving something true. 「証拠」 is the facts, objects or testimony used to prove; 「証明」 is the demonstration itself.
• Related実証じっしょうWrittenProving something with facts, as in 「実証研究」; academic in flavour, whereas 「証拠」 is the evidence itself.
• RelatedしるしNeutralA mark, sign or symbol; it can also be a token of one's feelings. Its focus is the mark itself, while 「証拠」 focuses on establishing a fact.
• Related裏書うらがきWrittenAn endorsement on a bill or cheque; figuratively, a guarantee of something rather than proof of it.
• Related理由りゆうNeutralA reason or cause; it explains why something is so, rather than serving as evidence that proves it.
• Related由よしWrittenLiterary word for a reason or cause; also means 'I hear that…', with the flavour of formal correspondence.
• Related徴証ちょうしょうWrittenWritten word for the grounds of an inference or an omen; rare today — use 「証拠」 or 「兆し」 instead.
• Related拠り所よりどころNeutralSomething to rely on — a basis, but also a spiritual anchor; stresses dependence rather than proof.
• Related証跡しょうせきWrittenWritten word for an object or trace that proves something happened; also in IT as 「監査証跡」. Uncommon today.
• Related弁証べんしょうWrittenProving something through argument or debate; rare. 「証拠」 is the material used for proof, not the arguing itself.
• Related原拠げんきょWrittenWritten word for the fundamental facts or reasons something rests on; rare today — in everyday use say 「根拠」.

Use 「証拠」 for the evidence or proof that establishes a fact, as in 「証拠を残す」「動かぬ証拠」. For the act of proving use 「証明」; for the grounds of a claim 「根拠」; for corroboration 「裏付け」; for academic verification 「実証」; for a token of the heart 「証」. 「証左」 is formal prose for evidence; 「信証」「明証」「徴証」「証跡」 are rare written words best replaced by 「証拠」, and rare 「原拠」 by 「根拠」. 「弁証」 is rare debate-based proof; 「裏書」 an endorsement; 「印」 a mark; 「拠り所」 something to rely on; 「理由」 a reason; 「由」 a literary 'I hear that…'.

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

1. 事実じじつを明あきらかにする根拠こんきょとなるもの。
2. （「その証拠しょうこに」「それが証拠しょうこに」などの形かたちで）その根拠こんきょとして。それを証明しょうめいするように。実際じっさい。
3. （法律ほうりつ）裁判所さいばんしょが事実じじつの認定にんていを行おこなうにおいて判断はんだんの根拠こんきょとして採用さいようしたもの、又または、その判断はんだんにいたるまでに、裁判所さいばんしょが調査ちょうさないし認知にんちした物ものや人ひとの言動げんどう。