Translation and Meaning of: 追放 - tsuihou

The Japanese word 追放 (ついほう, tsuihou) carries an intense and specific meaning, often associated with exclusion or banishment. If you are looking to understand its real usage in everyday Japanese, its origin, or how it appears in cultural contexts, this article will explore all of that clearly and directly. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to go beyond simple translation, showing how this word is perceived by native speakers.

Let's uncover from the basics — how to write and pronounce 追放 — to less obvious details, such as its use in formal or informal situations. If you've come across this word in animes, dramas, or news, understanding its cultural weight can make all the difference in your comprehension of Japanese.

Meaning and use of 追放 in modern Japanese

追放 is commonly translated as "expulsion" or "banishment," but its meaning goes beyond a simple physical removal. In Japan, it is often used in contexts where someone is excluded from a group, organization, or even a social space. Companies may announce the 追放 of an employee for rule violations, while online communities use the term for members who repeatedly break rules.

The interesting thing is that 追放 carries a connotation of a formal or institutional decision. It is not about a casual removal, but rather a deliberate action, often with a punitive character. In news about politics, for example, it is possible to find sentences like "The party decided on the 追放 of the member involved in the scandal." This nuance is crucial to understanding why the Japanese choose this word instead of lighter synonyms.

The origin and the kanji of 追放

Analyzing the kanjis that make up 追放, we have valuable clues about its original meaning. 追 (tsui) means "to pursue" or "to follow," while 放 (hou) can be translated as "to release" or "to expel." Together, they paint the picture of someone being literally pursued out of a place — an etymology that well reflects the current usage of the word.

According to the dictionary 漢字源 (Kanjigen), this combination has existed since the Heian period (794-1185), initially with a more physical sense of territorial expulsion. Over time, the term gained social and psychological layers, coming to include situations where exclusion is not necessarily spatial, but rather symbolic or relational.

Expulsion in Japanese culture and media

Anyone who consumes anime or Japanese dramas has likely come across 追放 in courtroom scenes, school conflicts, or even in historical plots. In "Attack on Titan," for example, the idea of banishment is central to understanding the dynamics between the characters. The word often appears in narratives that explore themes of belonging and rejection.

Outside of fiction, 追放 also has a significant presence in social debates. During the pandemic, there were discussions about "digital banishment" (デジタル追放) of elderly individuals unable to keep up with the accelerated digitalization. This type of use shows how the word adapts to new contexts while retaining its semantic core of systematic exclusion.

Tips for memorizing and using 追放 correctly

An effective way to memorize 追放 is to associate its kanjis with concrete situations. Think of 追 as "pursuit" and 放 as "expulsion" — together, they create the mental image of someone being pushed out against their will. This visual technique is especially helpful when the word appears in more formal or legal texts.

When using 追放 in sentences, remember that it generally appears in the structure [Group] が [Person] を追放する. Being a strong term, avoid using it in light contexts or jokes. Japanese people tend to reserve 追放 for truly significant situations, preferring words like 除名 (jomei) for more routine exclusions.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 追い出し (oidashi) - Expulsion, the act of removing someone from a place.
• 追い払い (oiharai) - Distancing, the act of keeping something or someone away, usually in a persistent manner.
• 放逐 (houchiku) - Exile, the act of banishing someone from a place, usually in a formal manner and often involuntarily.

追放

Romaji: tsuihou
Kana: ついほう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: exile; banishment

Meaning in English: exile;banishment

Definition: To exclude someone from an activity or place.

Example Sentences - (追放) tsuihou

See below some example sentences:

彼は追放された。

Kare wa tsuihō sareta

He was expelled.

He was expelled.

• 彼 - personal pronoun meaning "he"
• は - topic particle, which indicates that the subject of the sentence is "he"
• 追放 - noun that means "expulsion"
• された - passive form of the verb "suru," which means "to be done" or "to be accomplished." In this case, it indicates that "he" was expelled.