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How to say 'Defy' in Japanese | 逆らう

Wondering how to say 'Defy' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Defy is 'Sakarau', written as 逆らう in Japanese.'Defy' in hiragana is さからう.

    Meaning

    Defy

    Reading

    さからう

    sakarau

    Kanji

    Reverse

    Explanation

    The Japanese verb '逆らう (さからう)' means 'to defy' or 'to go against'. It is used to describe an action that opposes or resists something, such as authority, rules, or expectations. This verb often carries a nuance of rebellion or disobedience. For example: he defied his parents' wishes「彼は親の希望に逆らった」(かれはおやのきぼうにさからった). It is dangerous to defy nature「自然に逆らうのは危険だ」(しぜんにさからうのはきけんだ). The verb can also be used in a more neutral sense, such as going against the flow or direction, but it typically implies some form of resistance.

    Part Of Speech

    verb

    Kanji JLPT

    N2

    Kanji Grade

    5

    Frequency

    4073

    Composition

    kanji-hiragana

    Handwriting

This word is a godan verb. To learn how it transforms in different tenses and forms, explore all its conjugations.

Kanji in the Word 逆らう

This word contains 1 kanji character:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Reverse

Hiragana in the Word 逆らう

This word contains 2 Hiragana characters :

  • hiragana

    Reading

    Ra
  • hiragana

    Reading

    U

Words Related to 逆らう Through the Kanji

These 3 Words contain the Kanji 逆 as well.

  • word

    Meaning

    Reverse, Opposite

  • word

    逆さ

    Meaning

    Upside down

  • word

    逆さま

    Meaning

    Upside down

Learn the Word 逆らう

Let's make sure you fully understand this word.

What does 'Sakarau' (逆らう) mean?

'Sakarau' means 'Defy' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.