Translation guide
The act of causing an event or situation to happen, often by urging or persuading someone to do something. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various nouns and verbs that differ in nuance, formality, and whether the instigation is positive or negative.
Expressing that someone encouraged or pushed another person to take an action, especially a bad or undesirable one.
Refers to inciting or agitating people to action, often in a political or social context. Can have a negative connotation of stirring up trouble.
His speech instigated the riot.
A legal term meaning to instigate or abet someone to commit a crime. Formal and technical.
He was charged with instigation of murder.
A casual verb meaning to egg someone on or set someone on to do something, often mischievous or aggressive.
He instigated his friends to fight.
Expressing that an action or event was the trigger or cause for a larger development, often neutral or formal.
Means to trigger or induce something, often an event or reaction. Can be used in medical, social, or technical contexts.
The policy instigated an economic crisis.
Literally 'trigger', used metaphorically to mean the direct cause or instigation of an event.
Refers to an opportunity or trigger that leads to a significant change or start of something. Often positive or neutral.
Expressing that someone was motivated or convinced to take action through words or influence, without strong negative connotation.
扇動 (せんどう) is used for inciting groups or masses, often in political or social unrest. 教唆 (きょうさ) is a legal term for instigating an individual to commit a specific crime. Do not use 教唆 in casual conversation.
The English noun 'instigation' often does not translate directly into a single Japanese noun. It is more natural to use verbs like 扇動する, 促す, or phrases like 引き金となる depending on context.
その事件が戦争の引き金となった。
The incident instigated the war.
Studying abroad instigated a turning point in his life.
彼女は彼が謝るように仕向けた。
She instigated him to apologize.