恐怖政治

• Reading: きょうふせいじ
• Romaji: kyofu seiji
• Kanji breakdown: 恐 (kyō/oso) — fear, dread; 怖 (fu/kowai) — frightening; 政 (sei/matsurigoto) — government, politics; 治 (ji/chi) — govern, rule
• Pronunciation: /kʲoː.ɸɯ.seː.dʑi/

Meaning

Reign of terror; a system of governance maintained through violence, intimidation, and fear rather than consent, law, or legitimacy.

A noun translating the French Révolution's 'la Terreur' and more broadly any system where fear is the primary instrument of political control. Used in historical analysis of totalitarian regimes, revolutionary periods, and authoritarian states. The term implies that ordinary citizens live under constant threat of persecution, arrest, or execution, and that the state uses this terror deliberately as a tool of rule.

Examples

1. フランス革命後に訪れた恐怖政治の時代は、多くの無実の人々を断頭台へと送った。 The era of the Reign of Terror that followed the French Revolution sent many innocent people to the guillotine.
2. 独裁者が恐怖政治によって国民を支配する限り、真の民主主義は実現しない。 As long as a dictator controls the people through a reign of terror, true democracy cannot be achieved.
3. 恐怖政治の記憶が世代を超えて受け継がれ、その社会に深い傷跡を残すことがある。 The memory of a reign of terror can be passed down across generations, leaving deep scars in that society.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, authoritarianism, French Revolution

Tone: negative

Origin & History

A compound of 恐怖 (fear/terror) and 政治 (politics/governance). Coined in modern Japanese to translate the French Terreur and describe analogous historical phenomena of government by systematic intimidation.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal