白状（はくじょう、hakujou）
- confession

The Japanese word 白状 （はくじょう, *hakujou*） means to confess, to admit, or to own up to something, usually a wrongdoing or a secret. It implies a voluntary disclosure of information that one might have previously been hiding. The act of 白状 involves revealing the truth, often after feeling pressured or facing evidence. It can also imply a sense of relief after the confession.

⚫︎犯人はついに罪を白状した。 Translation: The criminal finally confessed his crime. ⚫︎彼は嘘をついていたことを白状せざるを得なかった。 Translation: He had no choice but to admit that he had been lying. ⚫︎秘密を白状する勇気がなかった。 Translation: I didn't have the courage to confess the secret.

⚫︎You would use 白状 when someone is admitting to a wrongdoing, a secret, or something they have been hiding. ⚫︎It is often used in situations where there is some form of pressure, such as being questioned by the police, being confronted with evidence, or feeling guilty and wanting to relieve one's conscience. ⚫︎The word carries a slightly formal tone, and while usable in everyday conversations, it's particularly suited for more serious contexts.

⚫︎白状 is written in kanji. ⚫︎The reading is はくじょう (hakujou) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no significant variations in okurigana. ⚫︎The word 白状 itself is the *noun* of confession. To make it a verb you can use it with the verb する [白状]する (hakujou suru), meaning "to confess".

⚫︎自白（じはく, *jihaku*): confession (formal) ⚫︎告白（こくはく, *kokuhaku*): confession, usually about feelings (can also be used for confessing crimes) ⚫︎認める（みとめる, *mitomeru*): to admit, to acknowledge

⚫︎否認（ひにん, *hinin*): denial ⚫︎隠す（かくす, *kakusu*): to hide, to conceal

警察の厳しい取り調べの後、容疑者はついに犯行を白状した。 ・Translation: After the police's intense interrogation, the suspect finally confessed to the crime. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 白状 in a legal or investigative context, where pressure leads to a confession.

罪を白状することで、彼は少し安堵したように見えた。 ・Translation: By confessing his sin, he seemed a little relieved. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the feeling of relief that often accompanies a 白状.

⚫︎The word 白状 is formed from two kanji: 白（はく, *haku*), meaning "white" or "plain", and 状（じょう, *jou*), meaning "state" or "condition". ⚫︎The combination suggests revealing the "plain" or "unvarnished" state of something, hence confessing or admitting the truth.