Japanese word

強要

Pronunciation

Romajikyōyō

Meaning

  • nouncoercion

Example

彼は友達に秘密を話すよう強要しました。kare wa tomo dachi ni hi mitsu o hana su yō kyō yō shi ma shi ta

He coerced his friend into revealing a secret.

Illustration for 強要 (coercion)

More examples

相手の意思に反する強要は、信頼関係を壊します。ai te no i shi ni han su ru kyō yō wa shin rai kan kei o kowa shi ma su

Coercion against another person's will destroys trust.

Core concept

強要 (kyōyō, "compulsion") centers on removing a person's freedom to choose by imposing a demand through force or pressure.

Common phrases

  • 強要を受けるkyō yō o u ke ru

    be subjected to coercion

  • 強要に屈するkyō yō ni kus su ru

    yield to coercion

Similar words

強制kyōsei: The act of compelling someone to act without regard for that person's wishes.
無理強いmuritsuyoi: The act of pressing someone to do something they do not want to do.
強迫kyōhaku: The use of threats or intense pressure to make someone comply.

Definition in Japanese

本人が望まない行為を、強い圧力によってさせること。hon nin ga nozo ma na i kō i o tsuyo i atsu ryoku ni yo tte sa se ru ko to

Word origin

強要 (kyōyō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 強 (kyō, "strong") and 要 (yō, "demand"), with the parts indicating a forceful demand.

Usage tips

  • The English noun coercion is used in both everyday and legal contexts for conduct that limits a person's free choice through pressure.

Other meanings

  • forcenoun
  • compulsionnoun

Opposites

  • 自発的jihatsutekiself-motivatedna-adjective

Related words

  • 強要するkyōyōsurucoerceverb

Word lists with this word