二つ返し

futatsugaeshi

paying someone back twice as much for their actions

彼は私に二つ返しをした。

He got back at me twice as hard.

◆ What It Really Means

A powerful or overwhelming retaliation against someone who has wronged you, often with the intention of teaching them a lesson.

¶ Literal Meaning

Returning something twice as much as what was given.

Literal Breakdown

二つtwo+返しreturning

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of someone receiving back twice as much as they gave, often in a way that is surprising or overwhelming.

◈ When to Use

Imagine someone bullies you online, and you respond by exposing their secrets or outplaying them in a game, making them regret their actions.

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase reflects a cultural value of fairness and justice, where people believe in giving back what they receive, often in a more intense way.

informal

A situation where someone retaliates against another person by doing something twice as bad as what was done to them, often in a way that surprises or overwhelms the original offender.

彼女の二つ返しに、彼は完全に敗北した。

He was completely defeated by her payback.

This phrase is often used in contexts where someone has been wronged and wants to make sure the other person learns their lesson.

Collocations

二つ返しをするto get back at someone

Synonyms

返り討ち報復逆襲

Antonyms

許す赦す

Related Phrases

返り討ちphrase

counterattack

報復phrase

revenge

Pro Tip

Usage in Gaming

In online gaming, this phrase is often used when a player retaliates against another player who has wronged them.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

This phrase is usually used in negative contexts where someone is seeking revenge or retaliation.

Word Origin

The phrase comes from the idea of returning something twice as much as what was given, often with a negative connotation.

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both real-life situations and online contexts, especially in gaming or social media where people might retaliate against others.

Word Breakdown

二つ

two

root

返し

returning

root

和英辞典

Browse more Japanese→English words →