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Words Kanji Guides About

仇かたきを討うつ

also: あだをうつ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

avenge someone by killing their killer

Used in historical or dramatic contexts for exacting revenge on behalf of a slain person, typically a family member or lord.

彼かれは父ちちの仇かたきを討うつために旅たびに出でた。
He set out on a journey to avenge his father by killing his murderer.

Written forms

仇を討つ
- かたきをうつ
  Standard kanji spelling for the reading かたきをうつ.
- あだをうつ
  Rare reading; 仇 is normally read かたき in this expression.
敵かたきを討うつ
Alternate kanji spelling; 敵 can also be read てき, so this form may be ambiguous.
あだをうつ

Kanji

仇foe, enemy, revenge
討chastise, attack, defeat
敵enemy, foe, opponent

Similar words

復ふく讐しゅうする
復讐する is a general term for revenge, while 仇を討つ specifically means avenging someone by killing their killer, often in a historical or dramatic context.

Etymology

Compound of 仇 (かたき, 'enemy, foe') + を + 討つ (うつ, 'to strike down, to kill'). The expression is rooted in the historical concept of katakiuchi (仇討ち), a sanctioned revenge killing.