しっぺ返(がえ)し

しっぺがえし

noun

retaliation; payback; tit for tat

1. retaliation; payback; tit for tat; getting even

Striking back immediately after being wronged. Implies a swift, proportional response to an offense, like hitting back right away.

すぐにしっぺ返(がえ)しを食(く)らった。

I got hit with retaliation right away.

悪口(わるくち)を言(い)ったら、しっぺ返(がえ)しにもっと酷(ひど)いことを言(い)われた。

When I badmouthed him, he retaliated by saying something even worse.

関税(かんぜい)を引(ひ)き上(あ)げたら、相手国(あいてこく)からしっぺ返(がえ)しを受(う)けた。

When we raised tariffs, we faced retaliation from the other country.

Originally from a Zen Buddhist practice called 竹篦(しっぺい) where a master strikes a student's hand with a bamboo stick. The student would immediately strike back — hence the 返(がえ)し (returning). In modern usage, it refers to any quick, proportional retaliation. Common in both personal and international contexts.

Common collocations

しっぺ返(がえ)しを食(く)らう: to suffer retaliation
しっぺ返(がえ)しを受(う)ける: to receive retaliation
しっぺ返(がえ)しに: in retaliation; as payback
しっぺ返(がえ)しをする: to retaliate

Similar words

仕返(しかえ)し: revenge; retaliation — broader and more deliberate; can be planned over time
報復(ほうふく): retaliation; reprisal — more formal, often used in military or diplomatic contexts
逆襲(ぎゃくしゅう): counterattack — emphasizes fighting back, especially from a disadvantaged position
八(や)つ当(あ)たり: venting anger on an innocent party — misdirected frustration, not proportional retaliation

Related Words

Compare: 仕返(しかえ)し (revenge)

Compare: 報復(ほうふく) (retaliation)

Compare: 逆襲(ぎゃくしゅう) (counterattack)

Compare: 八(や)つ当(あ)たり (venting anger on an innocent party)

general

Added 2026.5.8 1:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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