反則

• Reading: はんそく
• Romaji: hansoku
• Kanji breakdown: 反 (han) — against, contrary; 則 (soku) — rule, law
• Pronunciation: /haɴ.so.kɯ/

Meaning

Foul; violation of rules; breaking the rules in a game, sport, or regulated activity.

A noun and suru verb describing the act of breaking established rules, most commonly in sports. Appears in compounds like 反則行為 (foul play), 反則負け (loss by foul), and 反則金 (fine for a traffic violation). In casual speech, can also be used figuratively to mean something is unfairly good or impressive.

Examples

1. サッカーの試合で反則を取られて退場になった。 A player was called for a foul in the soccer match and was ejected.
2. 反則行為が多いチームはファンからも批判される。 Teams with a lot of fouls also get criticized by their own fans.
3. あの選手は反則すれすれのプレーで知られている。 That player is known for play that walks the line of a foul.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, games, traffic, regulations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 反 (han, against/contrary) + 則 (soku, rule/law). Literally 'against the rules,' directly describing the violation of established regulations.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal