動詞 VIII

想定そうてい外がいの質問しつもんにうろたえてしまった。

An unexpected question left me flustered.

Usage 〜にうろたえる — panicking visibly. Stronger than 慌てる in that the loss of composure shows for everyone to see.

Remember it うろ (adrift) + たえる → no longer knowing which way to turn.

相手あいての剣幕けんまくにたじろいだ。

I flinched at the fury on his face.

Usage 〜にたじろぐ — giving ground under pressure, as an immediate physical reaction. Close to ひるむ, but たじろぐ is the visible step backwards.

Remember it たじ (stagger) + ろぐ → the foot going back before you have decided to move it.

批判ひはんを浴あびてもひるまずに主張しゅちょうを続つづけた。

Though criticised, he pressed his case without flinching.

Usage 〜にひるむ — losing your nerve. Often negated: ひるまない, undaunted. Also written 怯む, sharing its character with 怯える.

Remember it 怯 (timid) on the heart radical 忄 → the nerve going out of you.

恐怖きょうふにおののきながら声こえを上あげた。

Trembling with fear, he raised his voice.

Usage 恐怖におののく, 寒さにおののく. Written and vivid. Also written 戦く; the related 戦々恐々 means living in dread.

Remember it おののく → the shaking that fear puts in you.

怒いかりに唇くちびるがわなないていた。

His lips were quivering with rage.

Usage 怒りにわななく, 恐怖にわななく. The subject is a body part — lips, hands, voice. More literary than おののく. Also written 戦慄く.

Remember it わななく → the fine tremor that runs through lip and hand.

犬いぬは雷かみなりの音おとに怯おびえている。

The dog is frightened by the sound of thunder.

Usage 〜に怯える — sustained fear, not a momentary start. 怯えた目 is a frightened look. Different from 驚く, which is the instant of surprise.

Remember it 怯 (timid) on the heart radical 忄 → the heart shrinking back and staying there.

高たかさを見みて足あしがすくんだ。

One look at the height and my legs froze.

Usage 足がすくむ, legs locked with fear; 身がすくむ, frozen stiff. The subject is a body part. Also written 竦む; 立ちすくむ is being rooted to the spot.

Remember it すくむ → the body drawing itself in and refusing to move.

緊張きんちょうで表情ひょうじょうが強張こわばっていた。

His expression was stiff with nerves.

Usage 顔が強張る, 体が強張る — going rigid from fear, cold or tension. Read こわばる, usually in kana. Its opposite is 解れる.

Remember it 強 (hard) + 張る (stretch taut) → pulled tight and unable to give.

肩かたの凝こりを解ほぐしてもらった。

I had the stiffness in my shoulders worked out.

Usage 凝りを解す, kneading out a knot; 緊張を解す, easing tension. Read ほぐす. The same character read とく, 解く, is a different verb.

Remember it 解 (undo) → working the knot until it lets go.

話はなすうちに緊張きんちょうが解ほぐれてきた。

As we talked, the tension began to ease.

Usage 緊張が解れる, 気持ちが解れる. The intransitive partner of 解す. Read ほぐれる, usually in kana.

Remember it 解 (come undone) → the knot loosening of itself.

新あたらしい職場しょくばにもだいぶ馴染なじんできた。

I have settled into the new workplace rather well.

Usage 〜に馴染む. Used of people, 職場に馴染む, and of objects, 手に馴染む, something that sits well in the hand. The noun 馴染み gives 幼馴染み, a childhood friend.

Remember it 馴 (tame) with the horse radical 馬 + 染む (soak in) → grown used to each other over time.

保護ほごした猫ねこがようやく懐なついてくれた。

The cat we took in has finally taken to us.

Usage 〜に懐く — growing attached and losing its fear. The subject is a child or an animal. Read なつく; do not confuse 懐かしい, nostalgic.

Remember it 懐 (bosom, as in 懐中) → coming close enough to be held.

鋭するどい質問しつもんを笑わらっていなした。

He laughed off the sharp question.

Usage 〜をいなす — deflecting instead of meeting something head on. A sumo term: stepping aside so the opponent's own momentum carries him past. Close to 受け流す.

Remember it いなす → stepping aside and letting the charge go by.

通とおりすがりに挨拶あいさつを交かわした。

We exchanged greetings as we passed.

Usage 言葉を交わす, 約束を交わす — always two-way; and 身を交わす, dodging a blow. The first sense is far more common.

Remember it 交 (cross, exchange, as in 交換) → the two passing through each other.

肝心かんじんなところで話はなしをはぐらかされた。

He dodged the subject just when it mattered.

Usage 〜をはぐらかす — evading a question by changing the subject. Implies bad faith. Often passive: はぐらかされる.

Remember it はぐらかす → slipping the question off to one side.

証拠しょうこはないと平然へいぜんと嘯うそぶいた。

He calmly claimed there was no evidence.

Usage Two senses: talking big, and coolly feigning ignorance. Always disapproving. Written register. Read うそぶく.

Remember it 嘯 (howl, declaim) on the mouth radical 口 → saying it loudly and without shame.

給料きゅうりょうが上あがらないとぼやいている。

He is grumbling that his pay never goes up.

Usage 〜とぼやく — muttered complaining. Colloquial, and milder than 文句を言う because it is not aimed at anyone.

Remember it ぼやく → the low running mutter of complaint.

構かまってもらえずに子こどもが拗すねている。

The child is sulking at being ignored.

Usage Sulking to get attention. The subject is usually a child, or an adult being called childish. Read すねる.

Remember it 拗 (twist) on the hand radical 扌 → the mood twisted out of shape on purpose.

自分じぶんだけ評価ひょうかされないと僻ひがんでいる。

He is bitter that he alone goes unrecognised.

Usage 〜と僻む — feeling hard done by, rightly or not. The noun 僻み gives 僻み根性, a chip on the shoulder. Read ひがむ.

Remember it 僻 (biased, out of the way) beside 亻 (person) → seeing everything from a corner of your own.

子こどもに新あたらしいゲームをねだられた。

My child pestered me for a new game.

Usage 〜をねだる — wheedling for something, typically a child asking for a thing. Also written 強請る. Very often passive: ねだられる.

Remember it ねだる → asking and asking until you are given it.

孫まごに昔話むかしばなしをせがまれた。

My grandchild begged me for a story about the old days.

Usage 〜をせがむ — pestering persistently until you get your way. Close to ねだる: せがむ stresses the persistence, ねだる the object asked for.

Remember it せがむ → not letting go of the sleeve until you give in.

甘あまいものに蟻ありがたかっている。

Ants are swarming over the sweets.

Usage 虫がたかる, insects swarming; and 人にたかる, sponging money off someone. The second is strongly disapproving.

Remember it たかる → gathering on it in numbers and not leaving.

庭にわの草くさをむしるのに半日はんにちかかった。

Weeding the garden took half a day.

Usage 草をむしる, 毛をむしる — pulling out in handfuls. Also written 毟る. 毟り取る means fleecing someone.

Remember it むしる → grabbing a fistful and tearing it out.

パンを千切ちぎって鳩はとにやった。

I tore up the bread and gave it to the pigeons.

Usage 〜を千切る, tearing into small pieces. As an auxiliary, 〜ちぎる means to an extreme: 褒めちぎる, to praise to the skies. Usually written ちぎる.

Remember it 千 (thousand) + 切る (cut) → cut into a thousand bits.

その一言ひとことが心こころを抉えぐった。

That one remark cut me to the quick.

Usage Gouging out; and the N1 sense 心を抉る, 核心を抉る — reaching the painful centre of something. 抉るような質問 is a question that goes straight to the bone.

Remember it 抉 (gouge) on the hand radical 扌 → digging in and scooping out.

罪悪ざいあく感かんに苛さいなまれる日々ひびが続つづいた。

Day after day I was tormented by guilt.

Usage Almost always passive: 〜に苛まれる, tormented by remorse, illness or unease. Read さいなむ. Written register.

Remember it 苛 (harsh, as in 苛酷) under the grass radical → something that keeps rubbing you raw.

いたずらをした子こを少すこし懲こらしめた。

We taught the child who played the prank a small lesson.

Usage 〜を懲らしめる — punishing to correct, not to take revenge. Same character as 懲りる, to learn your lesson, and 懲罰.

Remember it 懲 (chastise) over the heart radical 心 → making it stick in the heart.

誰だれも彼かれの遅刻ちこくを咎とがめなかった。

Nobody took him to task for being late.

Usage 〜を咎める, reproaching; and 気が咎める, feeling a twinge of conscience — the second is much tested. Relative: 見咎める.

Remember it 咎 (fault, blame) → pointing out where the fault lies.

約束やくそくを破やぶったことを詰なじられた。

I was reproached for having broken my promise.

Usage 〜を詰る — reproaching at length, with resentment behind it. Read なじる, not つめる. Emotionally heavier than 責める.

Remember it 詰 (press, question closely) on the speech radical 言 → pressing them with words that do not let up.

出過ですぎた発言はつげんを上司じょうしに窘たしなめられた。

My boss gently checked me for speaking out of turn.

Usage 〜を窘める — a mild warning to keep within bounds, gentler than 叱る. Read たしなめる; do not confuse 嗜む (たしなむ), to have a taste for.

Remember it 窘 (embarrass, restrain) under the cave radical 穴 → a quiet word that pulls you up short.

家臣かしんが主君しゅくんの非ひを諫いさめた。

The retainer remonstrated with his lord over his error.

Usage 〜を諫める. The crucial point is that the person addressed is your superior, unlike 窘める or 叱る. Written and archaic in flavour.

Remember it 諫 (remonstrate) on the speech radical 言 → speaking up to someone above you.

先生せんせいは静しずかに生徒せいとを諭さとした。

The teacher quietly talked the pupil round.

Usage 〜を諭す — explaining until someone sees reason, in the gentle tone of a senior. The same character gives 教諭, a schoolteacher. Read さとす.

Remember it 諭 (instruct, persuade) on the speech radical 言 → talking them into understanding.

辞任じにんの意向いこうを仄ほのめかした。

He hinted that he intended to resign.

Usage 〜を仄めかす — letting an intention show without stating it. Usually written ほのめかす. Related: 仄か, faint or dim.

Remember it 仄 (faint, dim) → letting only the outline of it show.

人事じんじ異動いどうを匂におわすような発言はつげんだった。

It was a remark that hinted at a reshuffle.

Usage 〜を匂わす — dropping a hint, letting the scent of it out. Close to 仄めかす but more everyday. 匂わせる is equally common.

Remember it 匂 (scent) → letting the smell of it escape without showing the thing.

都合つごうが悪わるくなると話はなしを逸そらす。

He changes the subject whenever it gets awkward.

Usage 話を逸らす, 目を逸らす, 注意を逸らす. Intransitive: 逸れる. 目を逸らす, avoiding someone's gaze, is very common.

Remember it 逸 (stray, as in 逸脱) on the road radical 辶 → sending it off the path it was on.

言いおうと思おもいながら言いいそびれてしまった。

I kept meaning to say it and never did.

Usage Only ever an auxiliary: 〜しそびれる, missing your chance to do something — 言いそびれる, 聞きそびれる, 行きそびれる. It never stands alone.

Remember it そびれる → the moment slipping past while you hesitated.

初戦しょせんの敗北はいぼくが彼かれの自信じしんを挫くじいた。

Losing the first match crushed his confidence.

Usage 足首を挫く, spraining an ankle; and 気勢を挫く, 自信を挫く, breaking someone's spirit. The saying 弱きを助け強きを挫く means helping the weak and humbling the strong.

Remember it 挫 (sprain, crush) on the hand radical 扌 → wrenched until it gives way.

一いち度どの失敗しっぱいで挫くじけてはいけない。

You must not be discouraged by a single failure.

Usage 心が挫ける, 気持ちが挫ける. The intransitive partner of 挫く. 挫けずに means keep going without losing heart. The Sino-Japanese noun is 挫折.

Remember it 挫 (be wrenched) made intransitive → the will buckling under it.

この程度ていどの苦労くろうでへこたれるものか。

As if I would give in to hardship on this scale.

Usage 〜でへこたれる — wilting and giving up from fatigue or difficulty. Colloquial, and often negated: へこたれない, someone who never wilts.

Remember it へこむ (be dented) + たれる → dented in and staying down.

何なにを言いわれてもめげずに続つづけた。

Whatever was said to him, he carried on undaunted.

Usage 〜にめげる — losing heart. Colloquial and almost always in the form めげずに, carrying on regardless.

Remember it めげる → the spirit chipping away under it.

炎天えんてん下かの作業さぎょうですっかりばててしまった。

Working under the blazing sun left me completely done in.

Usage 〜でばてる — worn out, spent. Colloquial. The noun 夏ばて, summer fatigue, is part of everyday life.

Remember it ばてる → the legs going and the body simply stopping.

毎日まいにち歩あるくので靴くつ底ぞこが擦すり減へった。

Walking every day has worn my soles down.

Usage Literally wearing away by friction; figuratively 神経がすり減る, nerves ground down to nothing. The second sense is the tested one.

Remember it 擦る (rub) + 減る (diminish) → rubbed away a little at a time.

手入ていれを怠おこたった畑はたけに雑草ざっそうが蔓延はびこっている。

Weeds have taken over the field that was left untended.

Usage 〜が蔓延る — spreading with nothing to check it. The subject is always something unwanted: weeds, crime, rumour. Usually written はびこる. Compare the noun 蔓延.

Remember it 蔓 (vine) + 延る (extend) → creepers running everywhere unchecked.

一部いちぶの業者ぎょうしゃがのさばっている。

A handful of operators are throwing their weight around.

Usage 〜がのさばる — behaving as they please because nobody stops them. The subject is a person or an unwelcome power. Colloquial and strongly critical.

Remember it のさばる → taking up all the room and daring you to object.

静しずかな環境かんきょうだと作業さぎょうが捗はかどる。

Work goes well in a quiet environment.

Usage 仕事が捗る, 勉強が捗る. The subject is the work, not the person. The negative 捗らない, making no headway, is very common. Read はかどる.

Remember it 捗 (make progress) on the hand radical 扌 → the work moving along under your hands.

冬ふゆ物ものは嵩張かさばって収納しゅうのうに困こまる。

Winter clothes are bulky and hard to store.

Usage 荷物が嵩張る — taking up space, a matter of volume rather than weight. Distinguish 嵩む, which is about quantity or cost mounting. Usually written かさばる.

Remember it 嵩 (bulk) + 張る (swell) → swelling out to fill the space.

開場かいじょう前まえから人ひとが犇ひしめいていた。

People were packed in even before the doors opened.

Usage 〜が犇めく — crowding tightly into a small space. 犇めき合う is jostling. The character 犇 is three 牛 — cattle pressed together. Usually written ひしめく.

Remember it 犇 is three 牛 (oxen) → a herd packed shoulder to shoulder.

発表はっぴょうを聞きいて会場かいじょうがざわめいた。

The hall buzzed when they heard the announcement.

Usage 〜がざわめく — a crowd or the leaves stirring into noise. The noun is ざわめき. The stress is on the sound spreading, unlike 騒ぐ, which is deliberate noise.

Remember it ざわざわ (rustle) + めく (take on) → the rustle running through the room.

逆転ぎゃくてんゴールに観客かんきゃくがどよめいた。

The crowd erupted at the winning goal.

Usage 〜がどよめく — a crowd reacting all at once in astonishment or excitement. Stronger and more sudden than ざわめく. The noun is どよめき.

Remember it どよめく → the roar that goes up from everyone together.

夜空よぞらに星ほしが煌きらめいている。

Stars are glittering in the night sky.

Usage 〜が煌めく — stars, lights, and talent. 煌めく才能 is dazzling ability. Usually written きらめく. Related: きらきら.

Remember it 煌 (bright) with the fire radical 火 → little points of light catching and going out.

解決かいけつ策さくがふと閃ひらめいた。

A solution suddenly came to me.

Usage アイデアが閃く, an idea flashing; and flashing or fluttering in the literal sense. The noun 閃き is a flash of inspiration. The first sense is the tested one.

Remember it 閃 is 人 inside 門 (gate) → someone darting through in a flash.

闇やみの中なかで何なにかが蠢うごめいていた。

Something was squirming in the darkness.

Usage 〜が蠢く — wriggling, with a shudder attached. Figuratively 陰謀が蠢く, a plot stirring beneath the surface. Usually written うごめく.

Remember it 蠢 is 春 (spring) over two 虫 (insects) → grubs stirring as the ground warms.

そんな理屈りくつが罷まかり通とおっては困こまる。

It will not do for reasoning like that to go unchallenged.

Usage 〜が罷り通る — something unreasonable being accepted as a matter of course. Always critical. Usually written まかり通る.

Remember it 罷 (leave off) + 通る (pass) → walking straight through with nobody stopping it.

病気びょうきに託かこつけて欠席けっせきした。

He used illness as a pretext for staying away.

Usage 〜に託ける — leaning on a reason that is usually not the real one. Read かこつける. Do not confuse 託す (たくす), to entrust.

Remember it 託 (entrust, plead) on the speech radical 言 → hanging your absence on a reason you were given.

先輩せんぱいの幸運こううんにあやかりたい。

I would like some of my senior's good fortune to rub off on me.

Usage 〜にあやかる — hoping to share in someone's luck, or to follow their example. Warm and congratulatory. Also written 肖る.

Remember it あやかる → standing close enough for the luck to reach you.

彼かれは三さんか国語こくごを自在じざいに操あやつる。

He handles three languages with complete freedom.

Usage 言語を操る, 機械を操る, handling with skill; and 人を操る, pulling someone's strings. 操り人形 is a puppet. The second sense is unpleasant.

Remember it 操 (manipulate) on the hand radical 扌 → working it by the strings.

その意見いけんには与くみしかねる。

I cannot bring myself to side with that view.

Usage 〜に与する — taking a side or taking part. Read くみする, not よする. Formal written style, and often negated: 与しない.

Remember it 与 (take part, as in 参与) → throwing in with them.

権力けんりょくに阿おもねるような報道ほうどうだ。

It is reporting that curries favour with power.

Usage 〜に阿る — flattering the powerful and bending to them. Read おもねる. Written register. Same family, different shades: 諂う, 媚びる.

Remember it 阿 (fawn, lean toward) → leaning whichever way the strong one stands.

上司じょうしに諂へつらう姿すがたは見みたくない。

I have no wish to watch anyone toadying to the boss.

Usage 〜に諂う — cringing flattery. Read へつらう. The harshest of the group 阿る / 媚びる / 諂う. 諂い笑い is an ingratiating smile.

Remember it 諂 (flatter) on the speech radical 言 → words used to crawl.

観客かんきゃくに媚こびない作品さくひんを作つくりたい。

I want to make work that does not pander to the audience.

Usage 〜に媚びる — playing up to someone to be liked. Often negated: 媚びない, refusing to pander. Milder than 諂う and more about manner than words.

Remember it 媚 (charm, flatter) with the woman radical 女 → making eyes to be liked.

同僚どうりょうの出世しゅっせを嫉そねんでいる。

He is jealous of his colleague's promotion.

Usage 〜を嫉む — resenting someone for being ahead of you. Read そねむ. Written register. Same character as 嫉妬; close in sense to 妬む.

Remember it 嫉 (jealousy) with the woman radical 女 beside 疾 (ailment) → envy as a sickness.

少すこし褒ほめられて自惚うぬぼれていた。

A little praise and I had got conceited.

Usage 〜に自惚れる — thinking too well of yourself. The noun 自惚れ gives 自惚れが強い. Usually written うぬぼれる.

Remember it 自 (self) + 惚れる (be smitten) → smitten with yourself.