相克

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 相克, read そうこく, and it combines 相, meaning mutual, with 克, meaning overcome or prevail.
• Basic usage: 相克 is conflict or antagonism between forces, duties, or values that are difficult to reconcile.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Two values within a mind and an opposition portrayed in a work
  • Both examples use the form 相克. It can be an internal conflict between duty and freedom or a clash between two value systems depicted in a work.
• A protagonist's duty-freedom conflict and two opposed worldviews
  • 主人公の心には義務と自由の相克がある。 — The protagonist feels a conflict between duty and freedom.
  • 二つの価値観の相克を描いた作品を読んだ。 — I read a work depicting a clash between two sets of values.