Meaning and Usage
"訴訟" (そしょう) refers to a legal action or lawsuit filed in court. It is a formal term used primarily in legal contexts when one party sues another.
Common Contexts
You will often see "訴訟" used in news reports, legal documents, and formal discussions about disputes requiring judicial resolution. It implies a serious conflict that has escalated to the court system.
Collocations and Patterns
- 訴訟を起こす: to file a lawsuit
- 訴訟を起こされる: to be sued
- 訴訟の結果: the result of a lawsuit
- 訴訟を避ける: to avoid litigation
These phrases are useful for discussing legal disputes clearly and formally.
Register and Nuance
"訴訟" is a formal noun and rarely used in casual conversation. When talking about disputes in everyday life, people might use simpler words like "問題" (problem) or "争い" (dispute). Using "訴訟" signals a serious legal matter.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "訴訟" with "訴える" (うったえる), which is the verb meaning "to sue" or "to complain." Remember, "訴訟" is the noun for the lawsuit itself, while "訴える" is the action of suing or appealing.