How to say "disobedience" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 不従順ふじゅうじゅんnounDisobedience as a personal trait: being unwilling to do as one is told. Typically describes a child or animal that will not obey, rather than open defiance of authority.
- 違命いめいnoun, suru verbDisobedience in the concrete sense of violating an order or command. A less common word that learners will seldom need; most contexts call for 不服従 instead.
- 不服従ふふくじゅうnounDisobedience as open refusal to obey a person or body in authority; the natural equivalent of 'insubordination'. Suits a subordinate or citizen who will not comply with orders or rules.
- 背馳はいちnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbChiefly means running counter to something, as when ideas or principles contradict each other. Its 'disobedience' sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for defying authority.
Choose 不服従 for disobedience toward authority, 不従順 for a child or animal that will not obey, 違命 for violating a specific order, and skip 背馳, which chiefly means contradiction.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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