突き付ける

• Reading: つきつける
• Romaji: tsukitsukeru
• Kanji breakdown: 突 (totsu/tsu) — to thrust; 付ける (tsukeru) — to attach, to present to
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.ki.tsɯ.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To thrust before someone; to present something suddenly and forcefully; to confront someone with a fact or demand they cannot evade.

A Group 2 (ichidan) compound verb combining 突く (to thrust) and 付ける (to attach, to bring to). Carries a confrontational force — thrusting something into someone's awareness and leaving no room for evasion. Common in legal, journalistic, and dramatic contexts.

Examples

1. 記者は政治家に証拠を突き付けた。 The reporter thrust the evidence before the politician.
2. 彼女は離婚届を夫に突き付けた。 She presented her husband with divorce papers.
3. 現実を突き付けられ、彼は反論できなかった。 Confronted with reality, he was unable to argue back.

Usage Guide

Context: confrontation, journalism, legal proceedings

Tone: tense

Origin & History

From 突く (to thrust) and 付ける (to press against, to attach). The image is of physically forcing something into another person's field of vision or hands, with no option for refusal.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal