How to say "avenge" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 討つうつgodan verb, transitive verbCovers 'avenge' only via its core senses of attacking, defeating, or destroying an enemy; the avenging is expressed through striking down the wrongdoer, typically in narrative or martial contexts.
- 無念を晴らすむねんをはらすexpression, godan verbDirectly means to avenge or settle a score by wiping away the grief or resentment over a wrong. Use this when the emphasis is on resolving that lingering bitterness rather than on the act of attacking.
For 'avenge', 「無念を晴らす」 directly expresses redressing grief over a wrong, while 「討つ」 centers on defeating the offender itself, so use it when the avenging act is an attack or destruction of the enemy.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
