主張（しゅちょう、shuchou）
- assertion/claim

The Japanese word 主張 (しゅちょう) primarily means "claim," "assertion," "advocacy," or "contention." It refers to stating something as a fact, often with the intention of persuading others or defending a particular viewpoint. It can also imply the active promotion of an idea or belief. 主張 can encompass a range of expressions, from a simple statement of opinion to a forceful declaration of one's stance. The core idea is to present a viewpoint or 主張, and to have that viewpoint or 主張 recognized.

⚫︎ 彼は自分の意見を強く主張した。 Translation: He strongly asserted his opinion. ⚫︎ 彼女は人権保護を主張する活動家です。 Translation: She is an activist who advocates for human rights protection. ⚫︎ その小説は、現代社会の問題点を鋭く主張している。 Translation: That novel sharply argues the problems of modern society.

You use 主張 when you want to express that someone is making a point, making a claim, or advocating for something. It’s suitable for formal and informal contexts, depending on the tone and surrounding words. It's often used when discussing someone's beliefs, opinions, or the main points of an argument or a writing. It is important to remember that using 主張 implies someone is putting forward a stance and hoping it will be accepted by others, or at least understood. This can be in relation to topics such as politics, philosophy, and everyday situations. The context generally shows if the 主張 is aggressive or just a statement.

主張 is written with the kanji 主張. The reading is しゅちょう in hiragana. There are no other ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard and does not change. There are no variations in okurigana.

⚫︎ 意見 (いけん): Opinion ⚫︎ 提唱 (ていしょう): Proposal/Advocacy ⚫︎ 言い分 (いいぶん): Plea/Statement ⚫︎ 表明 (ひょうめい): Declaration/Expression ⚫︎ 主張 (しゅちょう): 主張

⚫︎ 沈黙 (ちんもく): Silence ⚫︎ 否定 (ひてい): Denial ⚫︎ 否認 (ひにん): Denial

彼はその事件は無実だと主張している。 ・Translation: He is claiming he is innocent of the case. ・Explanation: This sentence shows someone is making a formal statement, a 主張, about their innocence.

その会社は環境保護の重要性を主張しています。 ・Translation: That company advocates for the importance of environmental protection. ・Explanation: This illustrates how a company can actively advocate for an idea or belief, a form of 主張.

The word 主張 is a compound word. It is formed from two kanji. 主 (しゅ) which means "main" or "principal," and 張 (ちょう) which means "to stretch," "to extend," or in this case, "to assert". Therefore, the etymological meaning of 主張 is a "main assertion" or "a main view being extended (and claimed)".