掃討・掃蕩・掃盪・剿討|そうとうsoutou[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
掃討掃討 is the most common spelling and the one beginners should use. It is written entirely in kanji.
掃蕩掃蕩 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 掃討. Learners will seldom need to write it; use 掃討 instead.
掃盪掃盪 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 掃討. Learners will seldom need to write it; use 掃討 instead.
剿討剿討 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 掃討. Learners will seldom need to write it; use 掃討 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbcleaning up (enemy remnants); sweeping clean (of opponents); mopping upよし！掃討完了！↗Alright! They're all mopped up!
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 掃討する（そうとうする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 掃討します（そうとうします） |
| Negative (nai) | 掃討しない（そうとうしない） |
| polite (masen) | 掃討しません（そうとうしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 掃討せず・掃討せぬ（そうとうせず・そうとうせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 掃討した（そうとうした） |
| polite (mashita) | 掃討しました（そうとうしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 掃討しなかった（そうとうしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 掃討しませんでした（そうとうしませんでした） |
| Te form | 掃討して（そうとうして） |
| Potential | 掃討できる（そうとうできる） |
| Passive | 掃討される（そうとうされる） |
| Causative | 掃討させる（そうとうさせる） |
| Causative passive | 掃討させられる（そうとうさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 掃討すれば（そうとうすれば） |
| tara | 掃討したら（そうとうしたら） |
| Volitional | 掃討しよう（そうとうしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 掃討しましょう（そうとうしましょう） |
| Imperative | 掃討しろ（そうとうしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym退治たいじNeutralNeutral. Exterminating demons, pests and the like — 「鬼退治」「害虫退治」; common in everyday use, while 「掃討」 leans toward military mopping-up.
- Synonym根絶こんぜつNeutralNeutral. Eliminating something at its root, as in 「病気の根絶」; the stress is on cutting it off completely.
- Synonym掃滅そうめつWrittenWritten register. Close to 「掃討」, but the emphasis falls on annihilating utterly, leaving nothing behind.
- Related覆滅ふくめつWrittenWritten register. Utterly overthrowing or destroying something; said chiefly of nations and regimes.
- Antonym擁護ようごNeutralAntonym. Supporting or upholding a person or cause — the opposite of 「掃討」's sweeping away and clearing out.
- Antonym保護ほごNeutralAntonym. Protecting or sheltering someone from harm; the opposite of 「掃討」's mopping-up.
To mop up enemy remnants or wrongdoers thoroughly, go with 「掃討」, as in 「掃討作戦」. For total annihilation use 「掃滅」 (written), for destroying pests and the like 「退治」, and for eradicating at the root 「根絶」; 「擁護」 and 「保護」 are the opposites.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
