Japanese word

事件

Pronunciation

Romajijiken

Meaning

  • nounincident

Example

その事件を友達から聞きました。so no ji ken o tomo dachi ka ra ki ki ma shi ta

I heard about that incident from a friend.

Illustration for 事件 (incident)

More examples

警察はその事件を調べています。kei satsu wa so no ji ken o shira be te i ma su

The police are investigating the incident.

Core concept

Refers to a notable event that becomes a matter for public attention, investigation, or discussion.

Common phrases

  • 事件の現場ji ken no gen ba

    the scene of an incident

  • 事件について話すji ken ni tsu i te hana su

    talk about an incident

Similar words

出来事dekigoto: An event that happens to someone or in a particular situation, without implying crime.
事故jiko: A harmful event caused by chance, such as a crash or other mishap.

Definition in Japanese

人々の注意を引き、調査や報道の対象となる出来事。hito bito no chū i o hi ki chō sa ya hō dō no tai shō to na ru de ki goto

Word origin

事件 (jiken) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 事 (ji, "matter") and 件 (ken, "case"), meaning a matter or case that has occurred.

Usage tips

  • Japanese news often uses 事件 (jiken) for a criminal case, so it can sound more serious than the general English word "incident".

Other meanings

  • casenoun

Word lists with this word