Word
暴力
Meaning in Englishviolence
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
暴力 means violence or the use of physical force or coercion against others. It encompasses bodily harm as well as threats or intimidation and applies to personal interactions, public life, and institutional settings.
Main meanings
- Physical violence: direct harm or threat of harm using bodily force.
- Coercion or intimidation: use of power to compel others, not always through physical harm.
- Contextual or metaphorical use: describes aggressive behavior in discussions of policy, media, or social issues; appears in compound terms related to violence.
How to use it
Used as a noun in both formal and everyday language; typical constructions include 暴力を振るう (bouryoku o furu) and 暴力を受ける (bouryoku o ukeru); appears in compounds such as 暴力団.
Variants and close terms
- 乱暴 (ranbō): rough, violent behavior
- 暴行 (bōkō): assault
- 非暴力 (hibouryoku): non-violence
Composition
- 暴 — conveys intensity, aggression, outbreak
- 力 — power or strength
- Combination — violence, the exertion of force
Etymology
From the Sino-Japanese on'yomi readings of 暴 and 力, the compound expresses violent power; the modern pronunciation is bouryoku.
Origin
Borrowed via Chinese influence; earliest appearances in classical Japanese texts, later common in legal and literary discourse during the Edo period.
Word class
noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
権力
kenryoku
(political) power, authority, influence
N1
動力
douryoku
power, motive power, dynamic force
N1
威力
iryoku
power, might, authority
N1
圧力
atsuryoku
stress, pressure
N1
勢力
seiryoku
influence, power, might, strength
N1
戦力
senryoku
war potential
N1
体力
tairyoku
physical strength
N1
弾力
danryoku
elasticity, flexibility
N1
労力
rouryoku
labor, effort, trouble