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苛政 (かせい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

苛か政せい

か

せ

い

Meanings

1

noun

tyranny; despotism; oppressive rule

Refers to harsh, oppressive government or rule. Often used in historical or political contexts.

歴れき史しは苛か政せいが必かならず滅ほろびることを教おしえている。
History teaches that tyranny always falls.
国こく民みんは苛か政せいに耐たえかねて蜂ほう起きした。
The people, unable to endure the oppressive rule, rose up.

Kanji

苛torment, scold, chastise
政politics, government

Similar words

専せん制せい
専制 refers to autocracy or absolute rule, often as a system of government, while 苛政 emphasizes the harshness and cruelty of the rule.
暴ぼう政せい
暴政 is violent or tyrannical rule, similar to 苛政, but 暴政 stresses violence and lawlessness, whereas 苛政 stresses severity and oppression.

Etymology

From Chinese 苛政 (kēzhèng), composed of 苛 (severe, harsh) and 政 (government, rule). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is used in classical Chinese texts to describe oppressive governance.