反骨

• Reading: はんこつ
• Romaji: hankotsu
• Kanji breakdown: 反 (han/so) — oppose, go against; 骨 (kotsu/hone) — bone, spirit, guts
• Pronunciation: /hankotsu/

Meaning

Rebellious spirit; defiance; refusal to submit to authority or convention. An innate disposition to resist power or injustice.

A noun primarily used in the phrase 反骨精神 (spirit of defiance/rebellious spirit). Often carries admirable connotations — the quality of refusing to be intimidated or to conform mindlessly. Less about mere stubbornness and more about principled, spirited resistance against authority or the status quo.

Examples

1. 彼はどんな権威にも屈しない反骨精神で、業界に新風を吹き込んだ。 With a rebellious spirit that bowed to no authority, he brought a fresh wind to the industry.
2. 彼女の作品には、社会の不条理に対する強い反骨が滲み出ていた。 Her work was suffused with a strong defiance against the irrationalities of society.
3. 反骨の精神こそが、この時代を切り開いた先人たちの原動力だった。 It was precisely this spirit of defiance that drove the pioneers who opened up this era.

Usage Guide

Context: biography, social commentary, art, history

Tone: admiring

Origin & History

Compound of 反 (han, to oppose/go against) and 骨 (kotsu, bone). The metaphor of having a bone of resistance — an inbuilt, constitutional quality of defiance — is vivid and powerful.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal