動詞 VII

危機ききは静しずかに忍しのび寄よっていた。

The crisis had been creeping up quietly.

Usage 〜に忍び寄る. The subject is often something abstract and unwelcome: 危機, 老い, 影. The verb 忍ぶ means to keep out of sight.

Remember it 忍ぶ (move unseen) + 寄る (draw near) → drawing near without a sound.

空気くうきが澱よどんだ部屋へやの窓まどを開あけた。

I opened the window of the room, where the air had gone stale.

Usage 水が澱む, 空気が澱む, stagnating; and 言葉が澱む, faltering in speech. 澱みなく話す means speaking fluently. Also written 淀む.

Remember it 澱 (sediment) with the water radical 氵 → water standing still until the silt settles.

手入ていれを怠おこたると刃物はものはすぐに錆さびる。

Neglect the care and a blade rusts in no time.

Usage 金属が錆びる. The noun 錆 is read さび. Figuratively, 腕が錆びつく means a skill going blunt for lack of use.

Remember it 錆 on the metal radical 金 → metal left out until it turns.

彼女かのじょの目めが涙なみだで潤うるんでいた。

Her eyes were moist with tears.

Usage 目が潤む, eyes welling; 声が潤む, a voice thick with emotion. Distinguish 潤う (うるおう), which is positive — to be enriched or well watered.

Remember it 潤 (moisten) with the water radical 氵 → filmed over with water.

相次あいつぐ批判ひはんがチームの士気しきを削そいだ。

The stream of criticism sapped the team's morale.

Usage 意欲を削ぐ, 興味を削ぐ, 士気を削ぐ. Literally shaving a layer off. そぎ落とす means paring down to essentials. Also written 殺ぐ.

Remember it 削 (shave off, as in 削減) → shaved down until less of it is left.

赤あかちゃんの笑顔えがおに場ばの空気くうきが和なごんだ。

The baby's smile softened the mood of the room.

Usage 心が和む, 雰囲気が和む. Intransitive; the transitive is 和ませる. The adjective 和やか gives 和やかな雰囲気, a genial atmosphere.

Remember it 和 (harmony, as in 平和) → settling into harmony.

薬くすりが効きいて痛いたみがだいぶ和やわらいだ。

The medicine took effect and the pain eased considerably.

Usage 痛みが和らぐ, 寒さが和らぐ, 緊張が和らぐ. Transitive: 和らげる. Distinguish 和む, which is about mood and atmosphere.

Remember it 和 (harmony) + らぐ → the sharpness going out of it.

各社かくしゃが技術ぎじゅつ力りょくを競きそっている。

The companies are competing on technical strength.

Usage 〜を競う, and 競い合う for mutual rivalry. Read きそう. The same character is read differently in 競争 (きょうそう) and 競馬 (けいば).

Remember it 競 shows two people running side by side → racing each other.

社運しゃうんを賭として新しん事業じぎょうに挑いどんだ。

They staked the company's future on the new venture.

Usage 命を賭す, 社運を賭す. The form 〜を賭して is all but fixed, and formal written style. Everyday speech uses 賭ける.

Remember it 賭 (wager) with the shell radical 貝 → the stake laid on the table.

雨あめが続つづくと気分きぶんが滅め入いる。

Continuous rain gets me down.

Usage 気が滅入る. It goes with almost nothing but 気 or 気分. Read めいる; do not confuse 滅びる (ほろびる), to perish.

Remember it 滅 (extinguish) + 入る (sink into) → the spirits sinking and going out.

失礼しつれい極きわまりない態度たいどだ。

It is an attitude of the utmost rudeness.

Usage 〜極まりない — in the extreme, and almost always critical: 危険極まりない, 失礼極まりない. A heavily tested N1 pattern. Also 感極まる, to be overcome with emotion.

Remember it 極 (the limit, as in 極限) → pushed as far as it will go.

方針ほうしんがなかなか定さだまらない。

The policy is taking a long time to settle.

Usage 方針が定まる, 目標が定まる, 評価が定まる. Intransitive; the transitive is 定める. More formal than 決まる.

Remember it 定 (fix, as in 決定, 安定) → coming to rest and staying put.

応急おうきゅう処置しょちで痛いたみが治おさまった。

First aid brought the pain under control.

Usage Three homophones read おさまる: 治まる for pain or unrest subsiding, 収まる for fitting inside, 納まる for being paid in. Choosing the right kanji is a favourite exam task.

Remember it 治 (govern, cure, as in 政治, 治療) → brought back under control.

会場かいじょうが水みずを打うったように静しずまった。

The hall fell as silent as if water had been poured over it.

Usage 場が静まる, 風が静まる, 騒ぎが静まる. The idiom 水を打ったように静まる means dead silent. Transitive: 静める.

Remember it 静 (quiet, as in 静止) → the noise settling out of it.

住民じゅうみんの不安ふあんを鎮しずめるのが先決せんけつだ。

Calming the residents' anxiety comes first.

Usage 怒りを鎮める, 不安を鎮める, 暴動を鎮める. Use 鎮 when what you are putting down is violent; 静める is for noise and commotion.

Remember it 鎮 (suppress, as in 鎮圧) with the metal radical 金 → a weight laid on to hold it down.

行いく当あてもなく街まちを彷徨さまよった。

With nowhere in particular to go, I wandered the streets.

Usage 〜を彷徨う, roaming without purpose. Figuratively 生死の境を彷徨う, hovering between life and death. Usually written さまよう.

Remember it 彷徨 (roam), both characters on the 彳 'step' radical → going and going with no direction.

突然とつぜんの申もうし出でに惑まどうばかりだった。

The sudden offer left me at a loss.

Usage Wavering, unsure which way to turn. Rarely alone — you will meet it in 戸惑う and in 四十にして惑わず, at forty one is no longer perplexed.

Remember it 惑 (confusion, as in 迷惑) over the heart radical 心 → the heart not knowing which way.

急きゅうな方針ほうしん転換てんかんに現場げんばは戸惑とまどっている。

The abrupt change of policy has left staff on the ground bewildered.

Usage 〜に戸惑う — thrown by something unexpected. The noun is 戸惑い. Distinct from 迷う, which is choosing between options; 戸惑う is not knowing how to react at all.

Remember it 戸 (door) + 惑う (be lost) → standing at the door unsure which one to open.

断ことわるべきかどうか躊躇ためらった。

I hesitated over whether I should refuse.

Usage 〜のを躊躇う. The noun is 躊躇い. The Sino-Japanese 躊躇する, read ちゅうちょする, is more formal. Usually written ためらう.

Remember it 躊躇 (hesitate), both on the foot radical 足 → the feet that will not take the step.

相手あいては返事へんじを渋しぶっている。

The other side is dragging its feet over a reply.

Usage 返事を渋る, 支払いを渋る. As an auxiliary: 行きしぶる, being reluctant to go. The adjective 渋い means both astringent and tastefully understated.

Remember it 渋 (astringent) → the face you pull at something sour, and the foot-dragging that goes with it.

騒音そうおんが睡眠すいみんを妨さまたげている。

The noise is disturbing my sleep.

Usage 〜を妨げる. The noun 妨げ appears in 〜の妨げになる, to become an obstacle. More formal than 邪魔する.

Remember it 妨 (hinder, as in 妨害) → standing in the way of it.

余計よけいな一言ひとことが相手あいての機嫌きげんを損そこねた。

One remark too many put the other person out of temper.

Usage 機嫌を損ねる — by far the most common — plus 健康を損ねる, 信用を損ねる. As an auxiliary: 言いそこねる, missing your chance to say it. Close to 損なう.

Remember it 損 (damage, as in 損害) → doing it harm.

事実じじつを歪ゆがめて伝つたえるのは許ゆるされない。

Passing on a distorted version of the facts is not acceptable.

Usage 顔を歪める, twisting your face in pain; and 事実を歪める, misrepresenting. Intransitive 歪む. The second sense is the tested one.

Remember it 歪 is written 不 over 正 → deliberately made not straight.

専門せんもん用語ようごを砕くだいて説明せつめいしてくれた。

He explained the technical terms in simple language.

Usage Literally smashing; the N1 senses are 砕いて説明する, putting something plainly, and 心を砕く, taking great pains over something.

Remember it 砕 (crush) with the stone radical 石 → broken into pieces small enough to handle.

二に次じ会かいでは砕くだけた話はなしもできた。

At the second round of drinks we could talk more casually.

Usage Shattering, and 砕けた言い方, an informal, relaxed way of speaking — the opposite of 硬い. Transitive: 砕く. The second sense is very much an exam item.

Remember it 砕 (crush) made intransitive → the stiffness broken up.

不都合ふつごうな報告ほうこく書しょは葬ほうむり去さられた。

The inconvenient report was buried.

Usage 〜を葬り去る — burying something out of memory or out of the record for good. Stronger than 葬る because 去る adds the sense of making it vanish. Usually passive.

Remember it 葬る (bury) + 去る (make gone) → buried and gone.

不況ふきょうで取引とりひき先さきが潰つぶれてしまった。

The recession put our client out of business.

Usage Being squashed; 会社が潰れる, going under; 予定が潰れる, plans falling through; 顔が潰れる, losing face. Transitive: 潰す.

Remember it 潰 (crush) with the water radical 氵 → squashed until it loses its shape.

長年ながねんの夢ゆめが一夜いちやにして潰ついえた。

A dream of many years collapsed overnight.

Usage 夢が潰える, 計画が潰える, 希望が潰える. Read ついえる, quite unlike 潰れる (つぶれる). Formal written style, and the subject is always abstract.

Remember it 潰 (collapse) read ついえる → the whole structure caving in.

天気てんきが崩くずれる前まえに帰かえろう。

Let us get home before the weather turns.

Usage Buildings and ground collapsing; and the everyday 天気が崩れる, バランスが崩れる, 体調が崩れる.

Remember it 崩 with 山 (mountain) on top → the mountainside giving way.

危険きけんに身みを曝さらすことになる。

It would mean exposing yourself to danger.

Usage 〜に身を曝す, putting yourself at risk; 恥を曝す, disgracing yourself in public; 日に曝す, leaving out in the sun. Usually written さらす.

Remember it 曝 with the sun radical 日 → left out in the open sun for all to see.

壁紙かべがみを剥はいで塗ぬり直なおした。

I stripped off the wallpaper and repainted.

Usage Peeling an outer layer off; and 地位を剥ぐ, stripping someone of rank. 化けの皮を剥ぐ means unmasking someone. Intransitive: 剥がれる.

Remember it 剥 with the blade radical 刂 → the skin cut away from what is under it.

不安ふあんが一瞬いっしゅん頭あたまを掠かすめた。

Anxiety flitted through my mind for a moment.

Usage 頭を掠める, a thought crossing the mind; snatching something petty; and 人目を掠めて, doing something behind people's backs.

Remember it 掠 (graze, snatch) on the hand radical 扌 → a hand passing close enough to brush it.

この紋章もんしょうは鳥とりの翼つばさを象かたどっている。

This crest is modelled on a bird's wings.

Usage 〜を象る — shaped after something. Read かたどる. The subject is an object, not a person. The same character gives 象徴, a symbol.

Remember it 象 (form, image, as in 象徴) → made in the image of it.

あの言葉ことばを胸むねに刻きざんでおきます。

I will keep those words engraved on my heart.

Usage Chopping fine and carving; 胸に刻む, taking something to heart; 時を刻む, a clock marking off the time. The last two are literary.

Remember it 刻 with the blade radical 刂 → cut into the surface so it will not rub off.

才能さいのうが埋うもれたままになっている。

The talent is going unrecognised.

Usage Being buried under snow or earth; and 才能が埋もれる, ability that never comes to light. Read うもれる. The second is the tested sense.

Remember it 埋 (bury) with the earth radical 土 → covered over and out of sight.

旗はたが風かぜに靡なびいている。

The flag is fluttering in the wind.

Usage Flags, hair and grass streaming in the wind; and figuratively 金に靡く, being swayed by money or bending to the stronger side. The second is disapproving.

Remember it 靡 (bend before) → everything leaning the way the wind blows.

この一件いっけんで信頼しんらい関係かんけいが揺ゆらいだ。

This episode shook the relationship of trust.

Usage 信念が揺らぐ, 地位が揺らぐ, 信頼が揺らぐ. The subject is abstract, unlike 揺れる, which is physical shaking. 揺るぎない means unshakeable.

Remember it 揺 (shake) on the hand radical 扌 → no longer standing firm.

豆まめが弾はじける音おとがした。

There was a sound of beans popping.

Usage Bursting open; and 弾けるような笑顔, a smile that bursts out radiantly. Transitive 弾く (はじく) — not 弾く (ひく), to play an instrument.

Remember it 弾 (spring, shoot) → the skin giving way and the inside flying out.

不満ふまんが昂こうじて辞職じしょくにまで至いたった。

His discontent grew until it led to resignation.

Usage 〜が昂じて — building up and then leading to something — is the form you will meet. 趣味が昂じて仕事になる means a hobby taken so far it becomes a living. Also written 高じる.

Remember it 昂 (rise high) with the sun radical 日 → climbing higher and higher.

故郷こきょうの風景ふうけいに思おもいを馳はせた。

My thoughts turned to the scenery of my home town.

Usage 思いを馳せる — letting your thoughts travel to somewhere distant — is all but fixed and a frequent exam item. 名を馳せる is to win renown. Literally, to gallop.

Remember it 馳 with the horse radical 馬 → sending your thoughts off at a gallop.

連絡れんらくを受うけてすぐに病院びょういんへ駆かけ付つけた。

On hearing the news I rushed straight to the hospital.

Usage 〜に駆けつける — hurrying to the scene because something has happened. Usually written 駆けつける. The phrase 駆けつけ三杯 is the three drinks a latecomer owes.

Remember it 駆ける (run) + 付ける (arrive at) → running there and arriving out of breath.

期待きたいは次第しだいに萎しぼんでいった。

Expectations gradually deflated.

Usage Flowers wilting and balloons going down; and 期待が萎む, 夢が萎む. Also written 凋む. Distinguish 萎える (なえる), losing heart or strength.

Remember it 萎 (wither) under the grass radical → the bloom shrinking back in on itself.

手入ていれをしないうちに雑草ざっそうが茂しげってしまった。

While I neglected it the weeds grew thick.

Usage 草木が茂る. The subject is always vegetation. 青々と茂る is lush and green. The Sino-Japanese compound is 繁茂.

Remember it 茂 under the grass radical → grown dense with leaves.

若わかい頃ころの努力どりょくが今いまになって花はな開ひらいた。

The effort of his youth has borne fruit only now.

Usage Flowers opening; and figuratively 才能が花開く, 文化が花開く. The second is what reading passages use. Read はなひらく.

Remember it 花 (flower) + 開く (open) → what was in the bud finally opening out.

機きが熟じゅくすのを待まつことにした。

We decided to wait until the time was ripe.

Usage 機が熟す — the moment being ripe — is a fixed phrase and a frequent exam item. Also 果実が熟す. Read じゅくす; the same character read こなす is a different verb entirely.

Remember it 熟 (ripen, as in 成熟) → left until it is ready.

春はるになり木々きぎが一斉いっせいに芽め吹ぶいた。

Spring came and the trees all budded at once.

Usage 木が芽吹く, 草が芽吹く. Poetic, and used of spring. The noun is 芽吹き. Read めぶく.

Remember it 芽 (bud) + 吹く (break out) → the bud breaking out of the branch.

庭にわ一面いちめんに薔薇ばらが咲さき誇ほこっている。

Roses are in glorious bloom all over the garden.

Usage 〜が咲き誇る. Because 誇る means to take pride, the phrase suggests beauty on full display. Written and richly visual.

Remember it 咲く (bloom) + 誇る (be proud) → blooming as if showing itself off.

判決はんけつが二に審しんで翻ひるがえった。

The verdict was overturned on appeal.

Usage 旗が翻る, a flag flying; and 判決が翻る, 前言が翻る, a decision reversed. Transitive 翻す, as in 前言を翻す, going back on your word. The second sense is tested.

Remember it 翻 with the feather radical 羽 → flipping over the way a banner does in the wind.

議論ぎろんは結局けっきょく同おなじ結論けつろんに行いき着ついた。

The discussion ended up at the same conclusion after all.

Usage 〜に行き着く — arriving at the end point, or ending up somewhere. 行き着く先 means the eventual destination or outcome. Also read ゆきつく.

Remember it 行く (go) + 着く (arrive) → going until there is nowhere further.

人ひとを見み下くだすような態度たいどは慎つつしむべきだ。

An attitude that looks down on people should be avoided.

Usage 〜を見下す, contempt. Read みくだす. Distinguish 見下ろす (みおろす), which is simply looking down from a height and carries no judgement.

Remember it 見る (look) + 下す (down on) → looking down from a height you have given yourself.

新あたらしい時計とけいをみんなに見みせびらかしている。

He is showing his new watch off to everyone.

Usage 〜を見せびらかす. Clearly disapproving, unlike the neutral 見せる, and unlike 自慢する, which boasts in words rather than display.

Remember it 見せる (show) + びらかす (flaunt) → holding it out where you cannot miss it.

この町まちは千せん年ねんの歴史れきしを誇ほこる。

This town boasts a thousand years of history.

Usage 〜を誇る, possessing something worth pride; also 世界一を誇る, being the best in the world. The noun 誇り gives 誇りに思う.

Remember it 誇 (boast) on the speech radical 言 → saying out loud what you are proud of.

相手あいてを侮あなどったのが敗因はいいんだ。

Underestimating the opponent was why we lost.

Usage 〜を侮る. The negative 侮れない — not to be taken lightly — is a frequent exam form. The noun is 侮り.

Remember it 侮 (slight, as in 侮辱) beside 亻 (person) → sizing someone up as less than they are.

年老としおいた親おやを労いたわる気持きもちを忘わすれない。

I try never to lose the wish to care for my ageing parents.

Usage 〜を労る — treating someone weak or tired with consideration. Read いたわる. The same 労 read ねぎらう means to thank someone for their efforts.

Remember it 労 (toil, as in 労働) → tenderness toward someone worn out by it.

母親ははおやは最後さいごまで息子むすこを庇かばい続つづけた。

The mother went on shielding her son to the last.

Usage 〜を庇う — protecting someone from blame or harm. Also physical: 傷めた足を庇って歩く, walking so as to spare an injured leg.

Remember it 庇 (eaves, shelter) under the 广 roof radical → held under your roof out of the rain.

泣なき叫さけぶ子こどもを必死ひっしに宥なだめた。

I did my best to soothe the screaming child.

Usage 〜を宥める — calming a person who is angry or crying. The object is a person; for an emotion use 鎮める. Usually written なだめる.

Remember it 宥 (pardon, soothe) under the 宀 roof radical → taking them in and quieting them.

父ちちは若わかい頃ころから茶道さどうを嗜たしなんでいる。

My father has practised the tea ceremony since he was young.

Usage 〜を嗜む — pursuing an art or a pleasure in moderation. Modest in tone: 酒を嗜む程度 means one drinks only a little.

Remember it 嗜 (have a taste for) on the mouth radical 口 → a taste kept within bounds.

子犬こいぬが庭にわで戯たわむれている。

The puppy is frolicking in the garden.

Usage Playing happily, and 言葉に戯れる, playing with words. The noun 戯れ appears in ほんの戯れだ, it was only a joke. Written register.

Remember it 戯 (play, as in 遊戯) → doing it for no reason but the fun.

水鳥みずどりが湖面こめんに群むれている。

Waterfowl are gathered in a flock on the lake.

Usage 〜が群れる. The noun 群れ means a flock or herd. Of people it is critical: 群れたがる describes someone who cannot stand alone.

Remember it 群 (group, as in 群衆) → the many drawn into one body.

上位じょういの二に校こうが最後さいごまで競せり合あった。

The top two schools were neck and neck to the end.

Usage 〜と競り合う — running level with an opponent. The plain verb 競る means to bid or contend; the noun is 競り合い. Common in sports reporting.

Remember it 競る (contend) + 合う (each other) → each pressing the other stride for stride.