How to say "coercion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 強制きょうせいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe most general word for coercion: compelling or forcing someone to do something against their will, and also enforcement, as when an authority compels compliance.何も私にそれをあきらめるように強制することができない。↗Nothing can force me to give it up.
- 強要きょうようnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCoercion as pressing a demand on someone: forcing them to comply with what is demanded, and it also covers extortion, wringing money or the like from a person.
- 威圧いあつnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCoercion in the sense of overawing or overpowering: daunting another party with overwhelming pressure until they feel dominated and cowed.
- 脅迫きょうはくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCoercion carried out by threats: menacing or intimidating someone, and it fits blackmail, where the threat itself is the means of coercion.
- 無理強いむりじいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbForcing something on a person against their will — pushing them to do what they are unwilling to do, with the nuance that the forcing is unreasonable.
Use 強制 for coercion or compulsion in general, 強要 for forcing compliance with a demand, 威圧 for overawing pressure, 脅迫 for coercion by threats or blackmail, and 「無理強い」 for pushing something on an unwilling person.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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