How to say "retaliation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 報復ほうふくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbRetaliation in the serious sense of reprisal or retribution — typically a nation, company, or other group striking back at a wrong done to it, rather than a personal squabble.私は彼に報復するつもりだ。↗I will take my revenge on him.
- 仕返ししかえしnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbPersonal payback or tit for tat: getting even with someone who has wronged you — the kind of retaliation exchanged between friends, coworkers, or rivals.
- 仇討ちあだうちnounVengeance in the strong sense: avenging a grave wrong done to oneself or one's family, above all a killing — the vendetta kind of revenge, not ordinary payback.
- 敵討ちかたきうちnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbEssentially the same word as 仇討ち, written with the character for 'enemy': vengeance for a grave wrong against oneself or one's kin. For lighter retaliation, 仕返し is the natural choice.
- 返礼へんれいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbReally means returning a courtesy — a return gift or thanks for a favor — and is only marginal for 'retaliation'; you will seldom want it in that sense, so use 報復 or 仕返し instead.
Use 報復 for serious retaliation such as reprisals, 「仕返し」 for personal payback or tit for tat, 「仇討ち」 and 「敵討ち」 for avenging a grave wrong, and avoid 返礼, which really means returning a courtesy.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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