挙兵

• Reading: きょへい
• Romaji: kyohei
• Kanji breakdown: 挙 (kyo) — raise, mobilise; 兵 (hei) — soldier, troops, arms
• Pronunciation: /kʲo.heː/

Meaning

Raising an army; taking up arms. The act of mobilising military force, especially in rebellion or uprising.

A noun and する verb used in historical and literary contexts to describe the act of mustering troops to challenge established authority. Common in accounts of civil wars, samurai rebellions, and coups. In modern usage it appears in historical fiction and journalism when reporting on armed insurgencies or coup attempts. Carries a weighty, archaic tone.

Examples

1. 武将は中央政府に対抗するため、ついに挙兵を決意した。 The warlord finally resolved to raise an army in order to oppose the central government.
2. 反乱軍が挙兵したとの情報が都に届き、朝廷は動揺した。 News that the rebel forces had taken up arms reached the capital, throwing the imperial court into turmoil.
3. 政変に不満を抱いた将軍が、独自に挙兵したと伝えられている。 It is said that a general dissatisfied with the political change independently raised his troops.

Usage Guide

Context: history, military, politics, literature

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From 挙 (kyo, raise/mobilise) and 兵 (hei, soldier/troops). A classical Sino-Japanese compound used throughout Japanese historical texts to describe the raising of an armed force.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal