Japanese word

降伏

Pronunciation

Romajikōfuku

Meaning

  • nounsurrender

Example

兵士たちは敵に降伏しました。hei shi ta chi wa teki ni kō fuku shi ma shi ta

The soldiers surrendered to the enemy.

Illustration for 降伏 (surrender)

More examples

交渉の末、指揮官は部隊の降伏を発表しました。kō shō no sue shi ki kan wa bu tai no kō fuku o hap pyō shi ma shi ta

After negotiations, the commander announced the unit's surrender.

Core concept

Describes giving up resistance and accepting another side's control or terms.

Common phrases

  • 無条件降伏mu jō ken kō fuku

    unconditional surrender

  • 降伏を受け入れるkō fuku o u ke i re ru

    accept the surrender

  • 降伏を要求するkō fuku o yō kyū su ru

    demand surrender

Similar words

投降tōkō: The act of giving oneself or one's forces to an enemy or opposing authority.
降参kōsan: The act of admitting defeat and giving up resistance, often in a contest or dispute.

Definition in Japanese

相手に抵抗するのをやめて従うこと。ai te ni tei kō su ru no o ya me te shitaga u ko to

Word origin

降伏 (kōfuku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 降 (kō, "descend") and 伏 (fuku, "lie prone or submit"), suggesting yielding to an opponent.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese noun 降伏 (kōfuku) has a formal tone and commonly appears in reports about armies or states rather than casual talk about losing an argument.

Other meanings

  • submissionnoun

Opposites

  • 抵抗teikōresistancenoun
  • 抗戦kōsencontinued resistancenoun

Related words

  • 降伏するkōfukusurusurrenderverb

Word lists with this word