謀反・謀叛|むほんmuhon[1]atamadaka (head-high)
ぼうはんbouhan
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Which spelling to use
謀反謀反 is the most common and standard written form; it is the recommended choice for learners when writing the word.
謀叛謀叛 is a less common written variant of 謀反. You may encounter it in texts, but beginner learners should generally choose 謀反 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbrebellion; revolt; insurrection; treason
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 謀反する（むほんする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 謀反します（むほんします） |
| Negative (nai) | 謀反しない（むほんしない） |
| polite (masen) | 謀反しません（むほんしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 謀反せず・謀反せぬ（むほんせず・むほんせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 謀反した（むほんした） |
| polite (mashita) | 謀反しました（むほんしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 謀反しなかった（むほんしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 謀反しませんでした（むほんしませんでした） |
| Te form | 謀反して（むほんして） |
| Potential | 謀反できる（むほんできる） |
| Passive | 謀反される（むほんされる） |
| Causative | 謀反させる（むほんさせる） |
| Causative passive | 謀反させられる（むほんさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 謀反すれば（むほんすれば） |
| tara | 謀反したら（むほんしたら） |
| Volitional | 謀反しよう（むほんしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 謀反しましょう（むほんしましょう） |
| Imperative | 謀反しろ（むほんしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym反逆はんぎゃくWrittenWritten. Betraying a government or one's lord; broader than 「謀反」—covers treachery in thought or deed and need not involve taking up arms.
- Synonym反乱はんらんNeutralNeutral. An armed uprising; common in news and historical writing and focused on the revolt itself, while 「謀反」 is mostly historical for defying a ruler.
- Synonym造反ぞうはんNeutralNeutral. Acting against the system or one's leadership—within an organization or against the establishment as a whole; mostly modern.
- Synonym反するはんするNeutralNeutral. Usually as 「〜に反する」: to run counter to or violate rules and norms; no sense of armed uprising.
- Related裏切りうらぎりNeutralNeutral. The everyday word for betrayal; it can target a friend or lover, not just a lord as with 「謀反」.
- Related背信はいしんWrittenWritten. Breaking faith or trust; mostly in legal or moral contexts, with no sense of armed revolt.
- Related寝返りねがえりNeutralColloquial. Going over to the enemy's side; also means rolling over in bed. Stresses switching camps rather than starting a revolt oneself.
- Related大逆たいぎゃくWrittenWritten. Heinous acts that violate human morality; not limited to taking up arms, while 「謀反」 refers specifically to armed defiance of a ruler.
- Related反抗はんこうNeutralNeutral. Everyday defiance or resistance—a child talking back to parents, for example; far milder than 「謀反」.
- Related乱逆らんぎゃくWrittenWritten and rare. Armed resistance to a ruler; close to 「謀反」 but with stronger emphasis on the turmoil of the uprising.
- Related悪逆あくぎゃくWrittenWritten. Brutal, wicked deeds; in ancient law, the grave crime of killing or wounding parents and elders. Stresses inhumanity, not rebellion as such.
- Related異心いしんWrittenWritten and rare. Harboring treacherous intent; stresses the disloyalty in one's heart rather than any overt act.
- Related内応ないおうWrittenWritten. Secretly colluding with the enemy as an inside collaborator; stresses aiding from within, not open revolt.
- Related内通ないつうWrittenWritten. Secret communication with the enemy; also an illicit affair. Stresses covert contact rather than taking up arms.
- Related反逆罪はんぎゃくざいFormalFormal legal term for the crime of rebelling against the state or its ruler; more formal than 「謀反」.
- Related大逆罪たいぎゃくざいFormalFormal legal term. Under the old Criminal Code, the crime of harming the emperor or other imperial family members; abolished in 1947.
- Related裏切り行為うらぎりこういNeutralNeutral. An act of betrayal; stresses the concrete treacherous deed, used in daily life and not limited to one's lord.
- Related背信行為はいしんこういWrittenWritten. A breach of trust or faith; mostly in business and legal contexts, with no connection to armed revolt.
- Antonym忠義ちゅうぎWrittenAntonym, written. Wholehearted loyalty to one's lord—the exact opposite of 「謀反」, betraying that lord and rising against him.
- Antonym服従ふくじゅうNeutralAntonym. Obeying commands and another's will—the opposite of 「謀反」, which is armed defiance of a ruler.
- Antonym帰順きじゅんWrittenAntonym, written. A rebel repenting and submitting anew to his former lord; the reverse of 「謀反」.
Use 「謀反」 for rising in arms against a ruler—mostly in historical contexts. For armed revolts in general, especially in news or history, pick 「反乱」; for modern opposition to a system or leadership, 「造反」; for treachery in thought or deed against a ruler or lord, 「反逆」. For everyday betrayal of a friend or lover, 「裏切り」 is the usual word. The remaining terms are more specialized: legal names like 「反逆罪」 and 「大逆罪」, written words for secret collusion (「内応」, 「内通」), or milder defiance (「反抗」).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
