Translation guide
How to express retaliation, counterattack, or fighting back in Japanese, from physical blows to verbal comebacks.
Specifically hitting someone back after being hit. Casual and direct.
彼は殴り返した。
He hit back.
Getting revenge or paying someone back, often with a nuance of retaliation for a wrong, not necessarily immediate.
彼は仕返しをしようと待っていた。
He was waiting to strike back.
To respond sharply to criticism, an insult, or an attack with words.
To talk back or retort, often in an argument. Common in daily conversation.
彼女はすぐに言い返した。
She immediately struck back verbally.
To make a counterargument or rebuttal. More formal, used in debates or discussions.
彼はその批判に反論した。
He struck back against the criticism.
To give a comeback or retaliate verbally, often with a sense of giving as good as one got. Casual.
To resist or retaliate against unfair treatment, bullying, or systemic wrongs.
To stand up to or confront someone or something. Emphasizes courage in facing a challenge.
彼らは不正に立ち向かった。
They struck back against injustice.
To resist or oppose. Can be used for physical or abstract resistance.
市民は圧政に抵抗した。
The citizens struck back against tyranny.
To get back at someone through actions other than direct confrontation, like sabotage or payback.
To retaliate or take revenge, often in a calculated manner. Can be used in personal, business, or international contexts.
会社は競合他社に報復した。
The company struck back against its rival.
Also used for indirect payback, like playing a prank or getting even.
彼はいたずらで仕返しをした。
He struck back with a prank.
反撃 (counterattack) is immediate and often physical. 仕返し (payback) is more personal and can be petty. 報復 (retaliation) is formal and often planned, used in serious contexts like war or business.
Do not translate 'strike back' literally as 打ち返す (uchikaesu) in most contexts. That word is mainly used in sports like tennis. Use the options above for natural Japanese.
彼は冗談でやり返した。
He struck back with a joke.