Japanese word

罪

Pronunciation

Romajitsumi

Meaning

  • nouncrime

Example

私は罪を犯していません。watashi wa tsumi o oka shi te i ma se n

I did not commit a crime.

Illustration for 罪 (crime)

More examples

裁判で罪を認めました。sai ban de tsumi o mito me ma shi ta

I admitted my crime in court.

Core concept

Describes an act that crosses a legal or moral boundary and brings blame or punishment.

Common phrases

  • 罪を犯すtsumi o oka su

    commit a crime

  • 罪を認めるtsumi o mito me ru

    admit guilt

  • 罪に問われるtsumi ni to wa re ru

    be charged with a crime

  • 罪を償うtsumi o tsuguna u

    atone for a crime

Similar words

犯罪hanzai: An act against the law that is recognized as a criminal offense.

Definition in Japanese

法律や道徳に反する行為。また、それによって負う責め。hō ritsu ya dō toku ni han su ru kō i ma ta so re ni yo tte o u se me

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 罪 (tsumi, "crime; sin") is an old Japanese word recorded in Old Japanese, while its deeper word origin is not securely known.

Usage tips

  • In religious translations, 罪 (tsumi) can represent sin in both Christian and Buddhist contexts, so the surrounding religious setting matters.

Other meanings

  • sinnoun
  • wrongdoingnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word