共犯者（きょうはんしゃ、kyouhansha）
- accomplice

The Japanese word 共犯者, read きょうはんしゃ (kyōhansha), means "accomplice," "accessory," or "conspirator." It refers to a person who participates in a crime or wrongdoing with others, either by assisting in the act itself or by helping after the fact. The key idea is that the 共犯者 shares responsibility for the crime, even if they didn't directly commit the main act. The level of involvement can vary, but the common thread is shared guilt. The word implies a collaborative element, a working together towards a common illegal or unethical goal. Think of it as a shared legal liability.

⚫︎ 彼は強盗の共犯者として逮捕された。 Translation: He was arrested as an accomplice in the robbery. ⚫︎ その詐欺事件には複数の共犯者が関与していた。 Translation: Several accomplices were involved in the fraud case. ⚫︎ 彼女は脱税の共犯者だと告発された。 Translation: She was accused of being an accessory to tax evasion.

This word is used in formal and informal contexts, but is most common in legal, journalistic, or investigative settings. It's suitable for discussing criminal activity, ethical breaches, or any situation where multiple individuals are complicit in a harmful act. You can use it in conversation when discussing news reports, legal proceedings, or fictional narratives involving crime or conspiracy. Avoid using it casually when describing trivial situations. Consider the gravity of the action when choosing this word. For instance, you could use 共犯者 to describe someone who knowingly assists in a burglary, but not someone who, for example, shares answers on a test (unless there were legal ramifications).

⚫︎ This word is primarily written in kanji 共犯者. ⚫︎ The reading is きょうはんしゃ in hiragana. ⚫︎ It is not typically written in katakana. ⚫︎ There are no significant variations in okurigana. The kanji are standard for this word.

⚫︎ 仲間 (nakama) - companion, comrade, often used in a broader sense of group member, not necessarily criminal. ⚫︎ 協力者 (kyōryokusha) - collaborator, someone who assists or cooperates, can be positive or negative. ⚫︎ 加担者 (katan-sha) - accomplice, someone who assists in wrongdoing (formal). ⚫︎ 一味 (ichimi) - a gang or group of accomplices (informal, often implying criminal activity). ⚫︎ 共犯 (kyōhan) - The act of being an accomplice. The noun form of 共犯者, but could function in a similar way depending on the context.

⚫︎ 単独犯 (tandokuhan) - sole perpetrator; the person who committed the crime alone. ⚫︎ 被害者 (higaisha) - victim. ⚫︎ 目撃者 (mokugekisha) - witness. ⚫︎ 容疑者 (yōgisha) - suspect. (While a suspect might be a 共犯者, the term itself is not an antonym.)

事件の捜査の結果、共犯者が新たに2名浮上した。 ・Translation: As a result of the investigation into the case, two new accomplices have emerged. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates how 共犯者 is used in a legal or investigative context, indicating the discovery of additional people involved in a crime.

彼は共犯者からの脅迫により、罪を犯したと供述した。 ・Translation: He testified that he committed the crime due to threats from an accomplice. ・Explanation: This sentence provides insight into the motivations and circumstances surrounding a crime, involving a 共犯者 and the impact of their actions.

⚫︎ The word 共犯者 is a compound word: ⚫︎ 共 (kyō) - meaning "together," "jointly," or "shared." ⚫︎ 犯 (han) - meaning "crime," "offense," or "perpetrator." ⚫︎ 者 (sha) - meaning "person" or "one who." ⚫︎ Thus, 共犯者 literally translates to "one who commits a crime together" or "a person who shares in a crime". It highlights the shared nature of the criminal act.