Translation guide
The act of forcing someone to do something against their will, often through threats or pressure. This guide covers how to express coercion naturally in Japanese, from direct force to subtle pressure.
Expressing that someone is made to do something against their will, often through authority, threats, or pressure.
The causative form is the most common way to express making or forcing someone to do something. The degree of coercion depends on context and verb type. For verbs without 〜せる, use 〜させる.
彼は部下に残業をさせた。
He forced his subordinate to work overtime.
The parents made their child eat vegetables.
The causative-passive form expresses being forced to do something by someone else. It emphasizes the speaker's lack of choice and often carries a negative nuance.
私は上司に無理な仕事をさせられた。
I was forced to do an unreasonable task by my boss.
子供の頃、ピアノを習わされた。
When I was a child, I was made to take piano lessons.
A direct translation of 'coerce' or 'force'. It is a formal term often used in legal, political, or serious contexts. Can sound stiff in casual conversation.
法律は自白の強制を禁じている。
The law prohibits coercion of confessions.
To force someone to do something against their will, often implying unreasonableness. Commonly used in everyday situations.
彼女に無理強いしてパーティーに参加させた。
I forced her to attend the party against her will.
A literary or formal verb meaning to compel or force. Often used in written language or set phrases.
苦難が彼に決断を強いた。
Hardship forced him to make a decision.
Expressing coercion through explicit threats, intimidation, or fear.
To threaten or intimidate someone into doing something. Often used in criminal or serious contexts.
彼は脅迫されて金を渡した。
He was coerced into handing over money through threats.
To threaten or scare someone into doing something. More colloquial than 脅迫する.
彼はナイフで脅して金を奪った。
He threatened with a knife and took the money.
To extort or blackmail someone into doing something, often for money. Implies using secrets or leverage.
Expressing coercion through manipulation, peer pressure, or obligation rather than direct force.
A formal pattern meaning 'have no choice but to do'. It implies being forced by circumstances or external pressure.
状況が彼に辞任を余儀なくさせた。
Circumstances forced him to resign.
証拠を見て、彼は認めざるを得なかった。
Faced with the evidence, he had no choice but to admit it.
Expresses that one cannot do something due to social or moral obligation, implying a form of internal coercion.
約束したので、行かないわけにはいかない。
Since I promised, I can't just not go (I'm obligated to go).
To apply pressure (psychological or social) to make someone do something. Common in business or political contexts.
上司は彼に辞職するよう圧力をかけた。
The boss pressured him to resign.
Expressing coercion by law, authority, or institutional power.
To compel or demand someone to do something, often used in legal contexts. Implies an abuse of power or authority.
警察は容疑者に自白を強要したと非難された。
The police were accused of coercing a confession from the suspect.
As above, but specifically in legal or institutional contexts. Often used in phrases like 強制執行 (compulsory execution).
裁判所は証言を強制することができる。
The court can compel testimony.
The English word 'coercion' is broad and often formal. In Japanese, it's usually better to use specific verbs or patterns like the causative form rather than the noun 強制, which can sound overly stiff or legalistic in everyday speech.
強制 (きょうせい) is general 'compulsion' or 'force', often institutional. 強要 (きょうよう) implies demanding something under duress, often with a power imbalance. 脅迫 (きょうはく) specifically involves threats or intimidation. Choose based on the nature of the coercion.
彼は契約書にサインするよう強要された。
He was coerced into signing the contract.
彼女は仲間からの圧力を感じた。
She felt coerced by her peers.
He blackmailed me, threatening to reveal my secret.