The mental state of acting deliberately; intent or intention, often implying bad faith or purposeful action.
その事故は故意ではなく、単なる不注意によるものだった。
That accident was not intentional; it was simply due to carelessness.
彼は故意に相手の電話を壊したと告白した。
He confessed that he deliberately broke the other person's phone.
故意か過失かで刑の重さが変わることがある。
Whether an act was intentional or negligent can affect the severity of the sentence.
In legal contexts, the mental element (mens rea) — the guilty or blameworthy state of mind required for criminal liability; an element of the offense.
刑事事件では、故意の有無が争点になることが多い。
In criminal cases, whether there was intent is often a key issue.
構成要件に故意が要求される場合、単なる過失では成立しない。
When intent is required as an element of the offense, mere negligence does not satisfy it.