Japanese word

反動

Pronunciation

Romajihandō

Meaning

  • nounbacklash

Example

新しい規則への反動で、抗議が広がりました。atara shi i ki soku e no han dō de kō gi ga hiro ga ri ma shi ta

The protests spread as a backlash against the new rule.

Illustration for 反動 (backlash)

More examples

説明が不足すると、改革への反動が強まることがあります。setsu mei ga fu soku su ru to kai kaku e no han dō ga tsuyo ma ru ko to ga a ri ma su

If the explanation is insufficient, the backlash against the reform may grow stronger.

Core concept

A force or change causes movement or a reaction in the opposite direction.

Common phrases

  • 改革への反動kai kaku e no han dō

    backlash against reform

  • 世論の反動yo ron no han dō

    public backlash

  • 反動を抑えるhan dō o osa e ru

    contain a backlash

Similar words

反発hanpatsu: A forceful negative response to a change, policy, or action.
抵抗teikō: Opposition that tries to block or limit a change or authority.
反対hantai: Disagreement with a proposal, opinion, or course of action.

Definition in Japanese

ある変化や働きに対して、反対の方向へ戻ろうとする動きや、それに伴う強い反発。a ru hen ka ya hatara ki ni tai shi te han tai no hō kō e modo rō to su ru ugo ki ya so re ni tomona u tsuyo i han patsu

Word origin

反 (han, "against") + 動 (dō, "movement") form the Sino-Japanese compound 反動 (handō, "opposing movement"), describing a return in the opposite direction and its extended reaction.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese noun 反動 (handō, "backlash or recoil") covers both physical recoil and social opposition, while English usually uses recoil for the former and backlash for the latter.

Other meanings

  • reactionnoun
  • recoilnoun

Related words

  • 反動的handōtekireactionaryna-adjective

Word lists with this word