排斥

• Reading: はいせき
• Romaji: haiseki
• Kanji breakdown: 排 (hai) — push aside, exclude; 斥 (seki) — repel, dismiss
• Pronunciation: /ha.i.se.ki/

Meaning

Exclusion; boycott; rejection; ostracism. The deliberate pushing away or exclusion of a person, group, or foreign entity.

Used as a noun or with する to mean actively ostracising or campaigning against someone or something. Often appears in historical contexts (排外主義 — xenophobia, exclusionism) and in discussions of bullying, discrimination, or trade boycotts. It carries a stronger, more hostile connotation than 排除 (removal) because it implies organised or social pressure to drive someone out.

Examples

1. 外国製品の排斥運動は国内産業を保護しようとする意図から始まったが、外交問題に発展した。 The campaign to exclude foreign goods began with the intention of protecting domestic industry but escalated into a diplomatic issue.
2. 職場での排斥は、場合によってはパワーハラスメントとして法的に問われることがある。 Workplace ostracism can in some cases be legally pursued as a form of power harassment.
3. 少数民族の排斥につながる政策は国際社会から強い批判を受けた。 Policies that led to the exclusion of ethnic minorities drew strong criticism from the international community.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, social issues, labour, international relations

Tone: critical, serious

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 排 (hai) — push aside, exclude; 斥 (seki) — repel, dismiss. Together they convey the sense of forcefully driving something or someone away. Adopted in the Meiji era for use in political and social discourse.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji-Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: Educated