Japanese word

不法

Pronunciation

Romajifuhō

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveunlawful

Example

不法な行為は禁止されています。fu hō na kō i wa kin shi sa re te i ma su

Illegal acts are prohibited.

Illustration for 不法 (unlawful)

More examples

その会社は、不法に得た利益を返還しました。so no gai sha wa fu hō ni e ta ri eki o hen kan shi ma shi ta

The company returned profits it had obtained unlawfully.

Core concept

Marks something as violating a legal rule and lacking the status of lawful conduct.

Common phrases

  • 不法な行為fu hō na kō i

    unlawful act

  • 不法に侵入するfu hō ni shin nyū su ru

    enter unlawfully

  • 不法滞在fu hō tai zai

    illegal stay

Similar words

違法ihō: Contrary to a law or legally binding rule.
非合法higōhō: Outside what the law permits or recognizes as lawful.

Definition in Japanese

法に背き、適法でないさま。hō ni somu ki teki hō de na i sa ma

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 不法 (fuhō) joins 不 (fu, "not") with 法 (hō, "law") to express conduct that is not in accordance with law.

Usage tips

  • Unlawful is especially common in fixed legal phrases such as unlawful entry, where it identifies a violation of a specific legal rule.

Other meanings

  • illicitna-adjective

Opposites

  • 合法gōhōlawfulna-adjective
  • 適法tekihōlegalna-adjective

Related words

  • 不法性fuhōseiunlawfulnessnoun

Word lists with this word