被害者（ひがいしゃ、higaisha）
- victim

The Japanese word 被害者 (被害者, ひがいしゃ) means "victim" or "injured party." It refers to a person or entity that has suffered harm, damage, or loss due to a crime, accident, disaster, or other negative event. This harm can be physical, emotional, financial, or otherwise.

⚫︎ 事件の被害者 Translation: The victim of the incident. ⚫︎ 地震の被害者を支援する Translation: To support the victims of the earthquake. ⚫︎ 彼は詐欺の被害者だった Translation: He was a victim of fraud.

⚫︎ 被害者 is used to describe someone who has been negatively affected by an event. ⚫︎ It is commonly used in news reports, legal contexts, and everyday conversations. ⚫︎ The word is applicable in various situations such as crime, accidents, natural disasters, or any situation causing harm to an individual or group.

⚫︎ The word is typically written with the kanji 被害者. ⚫︎ The reading is ひがいしゃ in hiragana. ⚫︎ The kanji is used to represent the meaning, while hiragana provides the pronunciation. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in the okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ 犠牲者 (ぎせいしゃ) - This can also mean "victim," but often implies a greater level of sacrifice or loss, particularly in the context of war or a disaster. ⚫︎ 被災者 (ひさいしゃ) - A person affected by a disaster. ⚫︎ 犠牲 (ぎせい) - "Sacrifice" or "victim" in a more abstract way.

⚫︎ 加害者 (かがいしゃ) - "Perpetrator," "offender," or "culprit." The person who caused the harm. ⚫︎ 犯人 (はんにん) - "Criminal" or "offender."

その事故の被害者たちは、補償を求めた。 ・Translation: The victims of the accident sought compensation. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the usage of 被害者 in the context of an accident where people suffered harm and are seeking redress.

彼女は長年のいじめの被害者であり、深刻な精神的苦痛を受けていた。 ・Translation: She was a victim of bullying for many years and suffered severe emotional distress. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates 被害者 used in the context of bullying, emphasizing emotional harm.

The word 被害者 is a compound word formed from: ⚫︎ 被害 (ひがい) - "Damage," "harm," or "loss." ⚫︎ 者 (しゃ) - "Person" or "one who." Therefore, 被害者 literally means "a person who has suffered damage."