Direction and opposition (-e karşı)

The postposition karşı means "against" or "towards". When expressing opposition to an idea, a law, or an action, you must use it with a noun in the dative case (using the -e / -a suffix, and a buffer -y- if the noun ends in a vowel).

Noun + Dative + Karşı

To say "against racism" (ırkçılık), the noun takes the dative suffix (and undergoes consonant mutation: ırkçılığa). To say "against the law" (yasa), it takes the buffer -y- (yasaya).

Fifteen students are organizing a protest against racism.
On beş öğrenci ırkçılığa karşı bir protesto düzenliyor.
Women are holding a big protest against violence.
Kadınlar şiddete karşı büyük bir eylem yapıyor.
There is a protest against the new law.
Yeni yasaya karşı bir eylem var.

Saying "I am against..."

You can also use karşı as the main predicate of your sentence by attaching personal "to be" suffixes directly to it. Because karşı ends in a vowel, remember to use the buffer -y- before suffixes like -ım (I am) or -ız (We are).

For example, to say "We are against war", "war" takes the dative (savaşa), and karşı takes the "we are" suffix to become karşıyız.

We are against war, we just want peace.
Biz savaşa karşıyız, sadece barış istiyoruz.

Advocating for Rights

This lesson also introduces vocabulary for civil rights, equality, and peaceful protests. While you stand against (karşı) injustices, you will often march for (için) positive changes, demand them as direct objects, or join actions to support them.

Twelve people are walking for justice and freedom.
On iki kişi adalet ve özgürlük için yürüyor.
Are you joining the equality protest tomorrow?
Yarın eşitlik protestosuna katılıyor musun?