The Meaning of bouryoku [暴力] In Japanese

暴力
ぼうりょく
Romaji: bouryoku N4

What does 暴力 mean?

Translation and Meaning

violence, force

Definition

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.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

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.

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.

Composition

  • 暴 — conveys intensity, aggression, outbreak
  • 力 — power or strength
  • Combination — violence, the exertion of force

Usage

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.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a sudden boom of power—the first kanji suggests a burst, the second reinforces strength, together they form the idea of violence.

Variations

  • 乱暴 (ranbō): rough, violent behavior
  • 暴行 (bōkō): assault
  • 非暴力 (hibouryoku): non-violence

Example Phrases

  • 学校の 掲示板には 暴力 の 防止 が 書かれている。
    Gakkō no keijiban ni wa bōryoku no bōshi ga kakarete iru.
    The school bulletin board has information on violence prevention.
    Lista:
    • 学校の (Gakkō no) – school’s
    • 掲示板には (keijiban ni wa) – on the bulletin board
    • 暴力 (bōryoku) – violence
    • の (no) – of
    • 防止 (bōshi) – prevention
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 書かれている (kakarete iru) – is written
    Uses the noun 「暴力」; combined with の to form 「暴力の防止」 meaning ‘prevention of violence’; the particle 「には」 marks topic/location.
暴力