The Meaning of kyouhaku [脅迫] In Japanese

脅迫
きょうはく
Romaji: kyouhaku N2

What does 脅迫 mean?

Translation and Meaning

threat, coercion, intimidation

Definition

What does 脅迫 mean? It denotes the act of forcing someone to act through threats or intimidation; a noun describing coercive pressure, and it is used with 脅迫する to mean to threaten or coerce.

Type

Noun, suru-verb (脅迫する)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Coercive pressure using threats or intimidation to compel action or deter action.
  • In legal contexts, a punishable act described as coercive threats; commonly appears in 脅迫罪 references.
  • Nuances include intimidation that relies on fear rather than physical violence, and it can describe both the act and its psychological dimension.

Etymology

kyō and haku show two on’yomi readings; the combination yields a noun for coercion through threat.

Composition

  • 脅: threat, menace
  • 迫: press, compel
  • Combine to form a concept of coercion through a threat

Usage

Used in formal writing and law, journalism, and serious discourse to describe threats or coercion; in casual speech people might prefer 脅す or 威嚇 depending on nuance, as 脅迫 carries a more formal or legal tone.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine 脅 as a looming figure of threat and 迫 as a hand pressing forward; together they depict a threat that pushes someone to act.

Variations

  • 強要 (kyōyō) — coercion, to compel by force or pressure
  • 恐喝 (kyōkatsu) — extortion, blackmail
  • 威嚇 (ikaku) — intimidation

Words with the same Meaning

Example Phrases

  • 脅迫を 受けた 私は 友人に すぐ 相談した。
    Kyōhaku o uketa watashi wa yūjin ni sugu sōdan shita.
    After I was threatened, I quickly talked to a friend.
    Lista:
    • 脅迫を (kyōhaku o) – threat (object marker)
    • 受けた (uketa) – received / experienced
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 友人に (yūjin ni) – to a friend
    • すぐ (sugu) – quickly
    • 相談した。 (sōdan shita) – consulted / talked
    In this sentence, 「脅迫」 means ‘threat’; it is the object of を受けた to express ‘was threatened’.
脅迫