Translation guide
To respond to a harmful action with a similar harmful action. In Japanese, the most common and natural way to express this is with 仕返しをする (shikaeshi o suru) or やり返す (yarikaesu). The choice depends on formality, intensity, and whether the retaliation is physical or verbal.
To express the idea of retaliating in a general sense, often in personal or informal contexts.
He always retaliates.
It's better not to retaliate.
A common casual verb meaning 'to do back to someone' or 'to retaliate'. Often used in spoken Japanese.
If they do something to you, do it back to them.
A more formal term for 'retaliate' or 'take revenge'. Often used in news or serious contexts, such as military or economic retaliation.
The government took retaliatory measures.
To retaliate with words, such as a sharp reply or counter-argument.
To talk back, retort, or answer back. Specifically for verbal retaliation.
She talked back to her boss.
To talk back or answer back, often with a nuance of defiance. Commonly used when a subordinate retorts to a superior.
The child talks back to the parent.
To retaliate physically, such as hitting or fighting back.
The English word 'retaliate' is often translated as 報復する (houfuku suru) in dictionaries, but this sounds formal and is not used in everyday conversation. For casual situations, use 仕返しをする or やり返す instead.
仕返し (shikaeshi) is getting back at someone for a minor offense, while 復讐 (fukushuu) is a deeper, often long-planned revenge. 復讐 is much stronger and more dramatic.
He swore revenge.
He retaliated immediately.