Translation guide
The English word "recoil" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers physical spring-back, emotional shock, gun kickback, and figurative retreat. Japanese uses different words and expressions for each.
To suddenly move back after hitting something or being released, like a spring or elastic.
Intransitive verb meaning to rebound or spring back. Used for balls, springs, etc.
ボールが壁に当たって跳ね返った。
The ball hit the wall and recoiled.
Phrase meaning to return due to reaction force. More technical.
バネが反動で戻る。
The spring recoils.
To suddenly feel shocked, disgusted, or horrified and pull back mentally or physically.
Intransitive verb meaning to flinch, shrink back, or be daunted. Often used for fear or intimidation.
彼はその恐ろしい光景にひるんだ。
He recoiled at the horrific sight.
Intransitive verb meaning to recoil, flinch, or stagger back, often from surprise or shock.
Phrase meaning to shudder or feel a chill, often from disgust or fear. Describes the feeling rather than physical movement.
その残酷な話を聞いてぞっとした。
I recoiled when I heard the cruel story.
Verb meaning to step back or retreat, often from fear or revulsion. More literal physical movement.
彼はその臭いに後ずさりした。
He recoiled from the smell.
The backward movement of a gun when fired.
Noun meaning recoil or kickback of a firearm. Also used for reaction force in general.
この銃は反動が強い。
This gun has a strong recoil.
Loanword from English 'kick', used colloquially for gun recoil.
To have an unexpected negative effect on the originator; backfire.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to backfire or have the opposite effect. Often used for plans or actions.
彼の策略は裏目に出た。
His scheme recoiled on him.
Phrase meaning to rebound on oneself; to suffer the consequences of one's own actions.
その批判は自分に跳ね返ってきた。
The criticism recoiled on him.
Both mean to flinch or recoil from fear or shock. ひるむ is more about being daunted or losing nerve, while たじろぐ often implies a physical stagger or step back. ひるむ is more common in everyday speech.
English 'recoil' in emotional contexts is often translated as ひるむ or たじろぐ, not a direct physical recoil word. Using 跳ね返る for emotional shock would be unnatural.
彼女は突然の非難にたじろいだ。
She recoiled at the sudden accusation.
The rifle's recoil jarred my shoulder.
Noun meaning a retaliatory blow or backfiring; getting paid back for a bad deed.
彼の悪口はしっぺ返しを食らった。
His insults recoiled on him.