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返上 (へんじょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb
returning ; giving back ; relinquishing ; giving up
Often used for voluntarily giving back or giving up something one has received, holds, or is entitled to, such as a title, award, post, privilege, or day off. More formal and Sino-Japanese in tone than simply 返す.
不ふ 祥しょう 事じ を 受う け て 、 彼かの 女じょ は 賞しょう を 返へん 上じょう し た 。
Following the scandal, she returned the award.
Similar words 返へん 還かん Also means returning something, but is often used for formal restoration of property, territory, documents, or rights to the proper owner; it does not strongly imply giving up a title or privilege.
辞じ 退たい Means declining or refusing an offer before taking it; 返上 is used when one gives back or gives up something already held or accepted.
放ほう 棄き Means abandonment or waiver of a right, claim, duty, or possession, often with a legal or decisive nuance; 返上 more specifically suggests handing back or relinquishing.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound written with 返, 'return,' and 上, here conventionally suggesting handing something up or back, often to an authority or rightful holder. The kanji components are useful for understanding the meaning, though this is not a detailed historical derivation.
