Japanese word

捜査官

Pronunciation

Romajisōsakan

Meaning

  • nouninvestigator

Example

捜査官は事件を調べています。sō sa kan wa ji ken o shira be te i ma su

The investigator is looking into the case.

Illustration for 捜査官 (investigator)

More examples

経験豊富な捜査官が目撃者に話を聞きました。kei ken hō fu na sō sa kan ga moku geki sha ni hanashi o ki ki ma shi ta

An experienced investigator interviewed the witness.

Core concept

Describes a public official whose work is to examine a case closely and establish the facts behind it.

Common phrases

  • 捜査官に任命されるsō sa kan ni nin mei sa re ru

    be appointed as an investigator

  • 捜査官を派遣するsō sa kan o ha ken su ru

    send an investigator

Similar words

捜査員sōsain: A person assigned to investigate a case, especially as part of an official team.
刑事keiji: A police officer who investigates crimes and gathers evidence.
探偵tantei: A private investigator who examines people, events, or evidence for a client.

Definition in Japanese

事件や犯罪を調べ、証拠に基づいて真相を明らかにする役目の公務員。ji ken ya han zai o shira be shō ko ni moto zu i te shin sō o aki ra ka ni su ru yaku me no kō mu in

Word origin

捜査官 (sōsakan) combines 捜 (sō, "search") and 査 (sa, "examine") to form 捜査 (sōsa, "investigation"), followed by 官 (kan, "official"); the compound thus names an official engaged in investigation.

Usage tips

  • The English word investigator is often broader than detective, and 捜査官 (sōsakan) likewise focuses on the act of investigating rather than on a particular police rank.

Other meanings

  • detectivenoun

Word lists with this word