反抗

• Reading: はんこう
• Romaji: hankou
• Kanji breakdown: 反 (han) — anti, against, reverse; 抗 (kou) — resist, oppose
• Pronunciation: /haɴ.koː/

Meaning

Opposition; resistance; defiance. The act of actively opposing or resisting authority.

A noun that functions as a suru verb (反抗する). Typically implies defiance against authority figures such as parents, teachers, or government. The well-known compound 反抗期 (rebellious phase) refers to adolescent rebellion, a universally recognized stage of development. Stronger and more confrontational than 反対 (disagreement/opposition).

Examples

1. 息子は最近反抗期で何を言っても聞かない。 My son is in his rebellious phase lately and won't listen to anything I say.
2. 生徒たちが厳しい校則に反抗した。 The students rebelled against the strict school rules.
3. 若い頃は親に反抗ばかりしていた。 When I was young, I was always defying my parents.

Usage Guide

Context: family, education, psychology

Tone: confrontational

Origin & History

Compound of 反 (han, anti/against) and 抗 (kou, resist/oppose). Together, 'turning against and resisting' — active defiance of established authority.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal