証人

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 証人, read しょうにん. Elements for proof and person combine to denote someone who testifies to facts or attests an act.
• Basic usage: 証人は話す presents testimony about what was seen in court, while 証人が署名する presents attestation of a contract by signature.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A court witness
  • The witness gives an ordered account in court of what they saw. Example: 証人は法廷で見たことを順に話した。 — In court, the witness recounted what they had seen in chronological order.
• A document witness
  • The two people who sign the contract attest the contractual act as witnesses. Example: 契約書には二人の証人が署名している。 — Two witnesses signed the contract.