Japanese word

囚人

Pronunciation

Romajishūjin

Meaning

  • nounprisoner

Example

囚人は家族に手紙を書きます。shū jin wa ka zoku ni te gami o ka ki ma su

The prisoner writes a letter to his family.

Illustration for 囚人 (prisoner)

More examples

囚人は面会室で弁護士と話します。shū jin wa men kai shitsu de ben go shi to hana shi ma su

The prisoner talks with a lawyer in the visiting room.

Core concept

It centers on a person kept under guard and unable to leave freely.

Common phrases

  • 囚人を収容するshū jin o shū yō su ru

    confine a prisoner

  • 囚人を釈放するshū jin o shaku hō su ru

    release a prisoner

  • 囚人を監視するshū jin o kan shi su ru

    monitor a prisoner

  • 囚人に面会するshū jin ni men kai su ru

    visit a prisoner

  • 囚人の家族shū jin no ka zoku

    a prisoner's family

Similar words

受刑者jukeisha: A person serving a sentence after being found guilty of a crime.
囚徒shūto: A person held in prison, often in formal or literary language.

Definition in Japanese

自由を奪われ、刑務所などに収容されている人。ji yū o uba wa re kei mu sho na do ni shū yō sa re te i ru hito

Word origin

The Japanese noun 囚人 (shūjin) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 囚 (shū, "captive") and 人 (jin, "person").

Usage tips

  • In English, prisoner usually highlights a person's current confinement, while convict highlights the fact that the person has been found guilty of a crime.

Other meanings

  • convictnoun

Word lists with this word