Translation guide
How to express the act of encouraging someone to do something, often negative or illegal, in Japanese.
To express the act of urging or stirring someone to take action, often with a negative connotation.
Specifically referring to encouraging violent or unlawful behavior.
Standard phrase for 'incite violence'.
その投稿は暴力を扇動するものとみなされた。
The post was considered to be inciting violence.
To express incitement in a casual, everyday sense, like daring someone or egging them on.
扇動 (せんどう) is the general term for incitement, often used in social or political contexts. 教唆 (きょうさ) is a legal term specifically for criminal instigation. Use 扇動 for everyday incitement and 教唆 when discussing legal charges.
Avoid directly translating 'incitement' as 刺激 (しげき) or 誘発 (ゆうはつ), as these mean 'stimulation' or 'triggering' and lack the negative, urging connotation of incitement.
The most common and direct translation for 'incitement', often used in political or social contexts. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to incite'.
彼は暴動の扇動で逮捕された。
He was arrested for incitement to riot.
その演説は聴衆を扇動した。
The speech incited the audience.
A legal term for 'instigation' or 'abetment', specifically used in criminal law. More formal than 扇動.
彼は殺人の教唆で起訴された。
He was charged with incitement to murder.
Often used for 'incitement' in the sense of stirring up emotions or provoking someone, sometimes in a more casual or aggressive context. Can also mean 'fueling' a situation.
彼の煽りで喧嘩になった。
His incitement led to a fight.
Means 'to drive someone to do something', often implying a strong urge or incitement from within or by external factors. More about motivation than direct urging.
好奇心が彼を冒険に駆り立てた。
Curiosity incited him to adventure.
Legal term for 'incite a crime'.
彼は犯罪を教唆した罪で有罪となった。
He was found guilty of inciting a crime.
A common verb meaning 'to instigate' or 'to egg someone on', often used when someone is encouraged to do something foolish or bad.
友達にけしかけられて、彼は先生に口答えした。
Incited by his friends, he talked back to the teacher.
Similar to けしかける, meaning 'to tempt' or 'to entice' someone into doing something, often with a negative outcome.
彼は友人にそそのかされて万引きをした。
He was incited by a friend to shoplift.