事故

The word "jiko" refers to an unexpected, unintentional event that leads to damage, injury, or failure. It is most commonly associated with traffic accidents (koutsuu jiko), but it also encompasses industrial mishaps or operational failures in a professional context.

Crucially, "jiko" must be distinguished from "jiken" (incident/case). While "jiko" is always unintentional, "jiken" often implies a criminal act or a deliberate human action (e.g., a crime or a scandal). If a car crash was caused by a drunk driver, it might be called a "jiko" in a general sense, but legally it could be treated as a "jiken" if criminal intent or gross negligence is involved.

In terms of usage, the verb you pair with "jiko" changes based on the role of the person: "jiko ni au" (to meet with an accident) is used when someone is a victim, whereas "jiko o okosu" (to cause an accident) is used when someone is the perpetrator. Using the wrong verb can completely change the meaning of the sentence and the perceived responsibility of the subject.