1.
self-defense (legal term); justifiable defense
The legal right to use reasonable force to protect oneself or others from an imminent threat. In Japanese law, an act of self-defense that meets certain conditions is not punishable. Also used loosely in everyday speech.
これは正当防衛だと主張した。
He claimed it was self-defense.
裁判で正当防衛が認められた。
Self-defense was recognized in the trial.
相手に先に殴られたので正当防衛として反撃したが、やりすぎると過剰防衛になる。
I was hit first so I fought back in self-defense, but going too far would constitute excessive defense.
USAGE:
A legal term defined in Article 36 of the Japanese Penal Code. Also widely used in casual conversation when justifying a defensive action. The boundary between 正当防衛 and 過剰防衛 (excessive defense) is a frequent topic in legal discussions and crime dramas.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 正当防衛が成立する (self-defense is established)
- 正当防衛を主張する (to claim self-defense)
- 正当防衛が認められる (self-defense is recognized)
RELATED TERMS:
- 過剰防衛: excessive defense — when the response goes beyond what is necessary
- 緊急避難: act of necessity — another legal justification for otherwise unlawful acts