容疑者（ようぎしゃ、yougisha）
- suspect

The Japanese word 容疑者 （ようぎしゃ） refers to a "suspect" or a "person of interest" in a criminal investigation. It signifies an individual who is suspected of having committed a crime but has not yet been formally charged. It is crucial to understand that a 容疑者 is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The term emphasizes suspicion rather than guilt.

⚫︎警察は事件の容疑者を逮捕した。 Translation: The police arrested the suspect of the case. ⚫︎容疑者は取り調べ中、一貫して無罪を主張した。 Translation: The suspect consistently claimed innocence during the interrogation. ⚫︎メディアは容疑者の実名と顔写真を公開した。 Translation: The media revealed the suspect's real name and photo.

This word is commonly used in news reports, legal proceedings, and police investigations. It's used when discussing someone who is suspected of a crime but has not been formally accused. Use it when referring to an individual who is under suspicion. Avoid using it to describe someone who has been proven guilty; in such cases, other legal terms like "犯人" (han’nin - criminal) or "被告人" (hikokunin - defendant) would be more appropriate.

容疑者 is typically written with the kanji 容疑者. The reading is ようぎしゃ in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word, and the okurigana is fixed.

⚫︎被疑者 （ひぎしゃ） - This is a formal term, also meaning "suspect." It is often used in legal contexts. ⚫︎嫌疑者 （けんぎしゃ） - Another synonym for suspect. This is less frequently used.

⚫︎被害者 （ひがいしゃ） - victim ⚫︎証人 （しょうにん） - witness ⚫︎犯人 （はんにん） - criminal (after conviction)

殺人事件の《容疑者は、まだ逮捕されていない。》 ・Translation: The suspect in the murder case has not yet been arrested. ・Explanation: This sentence describes an individual who is suspected of involvement in a murder but is still at large, indicating that they have not been apprehended yet.

弁護士は《容疑者の無罪を主張した。》 ・Translation: The lawyer argued for the suspect's innocence. ・Explanation: This sentence emphasizes that the 容疑者 is presumed innocent, and their defense will center around proving that innocence.

The word 容疑者 is composed of the kanji 容 （よう）, meaning "appearance" or "content," and 疑 （ぎ）, meaning "doubt" or "suspicion." The suffix 者 （しゃ） means "person." Therefore, it literally means "a person of suspicion." This accurately reflects the meaning of the word.