違法|いほうihou[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- na-adjective, no-adjectiveillegal; illicit; unlawful
Conjugation
| Plain form | 違法（いほう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 違法です（いほうです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 違法ではない（いほうではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 違法ではありません（いほうではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 違法だった（いほうだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 違法ではなかった（いほうではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 違法で（いほうで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 違法に（いほうに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 違法なら（いほうなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym不法ふほうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Covers illegal acts but also outrageous, unjust behavior, as in 「不法侵入」 and 「不法投棄」; 「違法」 focuses on breaking a specific law.
- Synonym非合法ひごうほうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means not legal, in violation of legal provisions, as in 「非合法活動」; close in meaning to 「違法」 but used less often.
- Antonym合法ごうほうNeutralNeutral. Means in accordance with the law, as in 「合法的な手段」; the direct opposite of 「違法」 and the everyday word of choice.
- Antonym適法てきほうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means conforming to laws and regulations; legal jargon, the opposite of 「違法」. In everyday speech people say 「合法」.
Use 「違法」 for breaking the law, as in 「違法駐車」. For unlawful entry or dumping say 「不法」; 「非合法活動」-type 「非合法」 is a rarer near-match. The everyday antonym is 「合法」; legal documents prefer 「適法」.
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
