Japanese word

復讐

Pronunciation

Romajifukushū

Meaning

  • nounrevenge

Example

彼は長年、復讐だけを考えていました。kare wa naga nen fuku shū da ke o kanga e te i ma shi ta

For years, he thought only of revenge.

Illustration for 復讐 (revenge)

More examples

彼女は怒りを抑え、復讐ではなく対話を選びました。kano jo wa ika ri o osa e fuku shū de wa na ku tai wa o era bi ma shi ta

She controlled her anger and chose dialogue instead of revenge.

Core concept

復讐 (fukushū) describes making the source of a wrong suffer in return, usually through a deliberate and personal act.

Common phrases

  • 復讐を果たすfuku shū o ha ta su

    take revenge

  • 復讐を誓うfuku shū o chika u

    swear revenge

  • 復讐を企てるfuku shū o kuwada te ru

    plot revenge

Similar words

報復hōfuku: A response that harms the person or group responsible for an attack or other harm.
仕返しshikaeshi: An act of treating someone badly in response to being treated badly by that person.
仇討ちadauchi: A traditional act of punishing the person responsible for killing or seriously wronging someone.

Definition in Japanese

受けた仕打ちに対し、その相手へ報いとして害を加えること。u ke ta shi u chi ni tai shi so no ai te e muku i to shi te gai o kuwa e ru ko to

Word origin

The noun 復讐 (fukushū) comes from the Chinese compound 復讐, read with the on'yomi 復 (fuku, "return") and 讐 (shū, "enmity"); its parts suggest returning hostility to an enemy.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese dramas and novels, 復讐 (fukushū) commonly marks a sustained plot goal, giving the word a weightier tone than a momentary angry reaction.

Opposites

Related words

  • 復讐心fukushūshindesire for revengenoun
  • 復讐者fukushūshaavengernoun

Word lists with this word