自首

じしゅ

surrender, give oneself up

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"自首" means to voluntarily surrender oneself to the authorities, usually after committing a crime. It implies a proactive confession or turning oneself in without being caught.

Common Contexts

This term is often used in legal or police contexts when a suspect decides to admit guilt and cooperate with law enforcement.

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Notes

Using 自首 suggests a positive attitude toward taking responsibility and can sometimes lead to reduced penalties. It is a formal term mostly used in legal or official contexts rather than casual speech.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 自首 with (admit guilt) or (turn oneself in), though they are related. 自首 emphasizes the voluntary and proactive nature of surrender.

Example Sentences

The suspect ultimately chose to surrender and cooperate with the police

Because of inner guilt, he decided to voluntarily turn himself in.

The police urged the criminal suspect to surrender quickly to reduce