Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 復讐する | fukushū suru |
| 報復する | hōfuku suru |
| かたきを討つ | kataki o utsu |
| あだを討つ | ada o utsu |
To avenge or seek vengeance is expressed through different terms based on whether the motivation is personal or whether the action is a formal retaliation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase かたきを討つ literally means 'to strike or attack the enemy' (kataki).
Which one should you use?
復讐する is used for personal vendettas or seeking revenge driven by emotion. In contrast, 報復する is the standard term for retaliation or reprisals between nations, organizations or in formal disputes. かたきを討つ is a more dramatic way to express avenging a death or a fallen comrade, while あだを討つ is a highly literary or archaic way to say 'to avenge'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
復讐する is common for personal matters. 報復する is used in formal or political contexts. かたきを討つ and あだを討つ are literary or archaic and are often found in classical literature or historical dramas.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form of the verb 復讐する is 復讐 (fukushū), which means 'revenge' or 'vengeance'.
How do you pronounce it?
fukushū suru
Did you know?
- The phrase かたきを討つ is deeply tied to the samurai code of bushido, where avenging a father or lord was not just an emotion but a social duty.
- While 報復する describes retaliation, the word for 'retribution' can be linked to the concept of 因果応報, meaning the karmic law of cause and effect.
- In the phrase かたきを討つ, the word かたき refers to an 'enemy' or 'foe' rather than a 'debt', which can confuse learners who associate the sound with 'debt' (kataki) in other contexts.
Examples in context
- 私は彼の復讐を果たさなければならないと感じています。I feel that I must avenge him.
- その騎士は王のために復讐する。Sono kishi wa ou no tame ni fukushuu suru.The knight will avenge the king.
- 彼女は友人のために復讐することを誓った。Kanojo wa yuujin no tame ni fukushuu suru koto o chikatta.She swore to avenge her friend.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a plot of a historical drama movie.
- 陽太 Yota主人公は死んだ父の復讐をするのかな？Shujinkou wa shinda chichi no fukushuu o suru no kana?I wonder if the protagonist will avenge his dead father?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、彼は必ず復讐すると思います。Hai, kare wa kanarazu fukushuu suru to omoimasu.Yes, I think he will definitely avenge him.
- 陽太 Yota結衣さんは復讐の物語が好きですか？Yui-san wa fukushuu no monogatari ga suki desu ka?Yui, do you like vengeance stories?
- 結衣 Yui少し怖いですが、面白いですよ。Sukoshi kowai desu ga, omoshiroi desu yo.They are a bit scary, but they are interesting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “avenge” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
