godan verb (-su), transitive verb
knock back; strike back
Physical counterattack: hitting back immediately after being hit, or returning a blow.
彼は殴られたらすぐに叩き返すタイプだ。
He's the type who hits back right away if he gets punched.
ボクサーは相手のパンチを叩き返し
The boxer struck back against his opponent's punch.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
beat in revenge; retaliate by beating
Revenge-oriented beating: physically attacking someone as payback for a past wrong, not necessarily an immediate counter.
いじめっ子を叩き返してやった。
I beat up the bully in revenge.