Creative Ways To Correctly Use “sakarau”, “tatetsuku” and “oshikiru”

Japanese has several words for pushing back against someone or something — but 逆さからう, 楯突たてつく, and 押おし切きる each capture a different flavor of defiance. Mixing them up can make a gentle situation sound confrontational or miss the point entirely.

Yuka

Yuka: What’s the difference between 逆さからう, 楯突たてつく, and 押おし切きる?

Rei

Rei: 逆さからう = disobey a person or go against a force; 楯突たてつく = be openly defiant or rebellious toward a superior; 押おし切きる = push through with your decision despite opposition.

At a Glance: Three Ways to Push Back

逆さからう — Disobey or Go Against

逆さからう covers disobeying people (parents, bosses, teachers) and going against natural forces or social trends (swimming against the current, going against convention). It is neutral in tone — not necessarily aggressive.

Common patterns: [person/thing] に逆さからう

Yuka

社長しゃちょうの指示しじに逆さからったことなんて一回いっかいもないよー。 (I have never once disobeyed the president’s instructions.)

Rei

流ながれに逆さからって泳およぐのは大変たいへんだよ。 (It’s tough swimming against the current.)

Yuka

親おやに逆さからってまで、自分じぶんの夢ゆめを追おいたい。 (I want to chase my dream even if it means going against my parents.)

楯突たてつく — Open Defiance Toward a Superior

楯突たてつく is more aggressive and specific than 逆さからう. It almost always involves a person — particularly a superior like a boss, teacher, or elder — and implies open, face-to-face confrontation. It does not apply to natural forces.

Yuka

出世しゅっせのために上司じょうしに楯突たてつくことは、やめたほうがいいんじゃない？ (If you want to get promoted, you should stop being defiant toward your boss.)

Rei

楯突たてつくと後あとが怖こわいんじゃない？ (Aren’t you afraid of the consequences if you defy them?)

押おし切きる — Pushing Through Despite Opposition

押おし切きる means to persist with your own decision even though others oppose it. Crucially, the person is not necessarily trying to defy anyone — they just go ahead with what they decided. Marriage against parents’ wishes is a classic use case.

Yuka

知しってる？あおいちゃんのお姉ねえちゃんが、反対はんたいを押おし切きって結婚けっこんするんだって。 (You know what? Aoi’s sister is going ahead with the marriage despite everyone’s opposition.)

Rei

押おし切きったなー。 (She really pushed through with it, didn’t she.)

Yuka

みんなのみんなの反対はんたいを押おし切きって、会社かいしゃを辞やめることにした。 (I decided to quit my job, pushing through despite everyone’s objections.)

Quick Quiz

Fill in the blank: 逆さからう, 楯突たてつく, or 押おし切きる?

1. 彼は社長しゃちょうに_____て会議室かいぎしつを飛とび出でした。 (He stormed out of the boardroom after openly defying the president.) → 楯突たてつい

2. 親の意見いけんに_____て海外かいがいに移住いじゅうした。 (She moved abroad going against her parents’ opinion.) → 逆さからっ

3. 周囲しゅういの反対はんたいを_____、その計画けいかくを実行じっこうした。 (He pushed through with the plan despite opposition from those around him.) → 押おし切きって

逆さからう for disobeying people or forces; 楯突たてつく for open confrontational defiance toward a superior; 押おし切きる for pushing ahead with your decision despite opposition. Each has a distinct emotional flavor that is worth getting right.

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