How to say "obey" in Japanese

• 従うしたがうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe general-purpose verb: to obey an order or law, or to abide by a rule or custom. Reach for it when someone complies with what an authority or a rule prescribes.
  善良ぜんりょうな市民しみんは法律ほうりつに従したがう。↗

  A good citizen obeys the laws.
• 服するふくするCommon
  suru verb (irregular), intransitive verbCenters on submission: obeying here means yielding to and accepting an authority, a judgment, or a decision, rather than simply carrying out orders. Choose it when the nuance is acceptance or submission.
• 守るまもるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbHere obey means keep or abide by: observing rules, laws, or promises so as not to break them. The nuance is keeping or observing something, not submitting to a person.
  いったん約束やくそくしたのであれば、守まもらなければならない。↗

  Once you have made a promise, you must keep it.
• なびくCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbSeldom the word you want for obey: it really describes bending or being swayed, as in yielding to influence, temptation, or pressure, and its obey sense is that passive, figurative yielding.

Choose 「従う」 for obeying orders, laws, and rules in general; 「守る」 when obeying means keeping rules or promises; 「服する」 for submitting to or accepting authority or a decision; 「なびく」 is seldom right, since it means being swayed.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 従うしたがうto obey (an order, law, etc.)
• 服するふくするto obey
• 服すふくすto obey
• 守るまもるto keep (i.e. a promise)
• なびくto yield to
• 奉ずるほうずるto obey
• 奉じるほうじるto obey
• 付き従うつきしたがうto serve
• 聞くきくto follow (advice, order, etc.)