いたわる・労る・労わるitawaru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto pity; to sympathize with; to sympathise with; to treat with sympathy; to console; to be kind to
- godan verb, transitive verbto tend to (e.g. an injury); to care for; to nurse; to soothe私は病気の姉をいたわった。↗I took care of my sick sister.
- godan verb, transitive verbto appreciate; to recognize (someone's efforts); to reward for
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | いたわる |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | いたわります |
| Negative (nai) | いたわらない |
| polite (masen) | いたわりません |
| classical zu / nu | いたわらず・いたわらぬ |
| Past (ta) | いたわった |
| polite (mashita) | いたわりました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | いたわらなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | いたわりませんでした |
| Te form | いたわって |
| Potential | いたわれる |
| Passive | いたわられる |
| Causative | いたわらせる |
| Causative passive | いたわらせられる・いたわらされる |
| Conditional (ba) | いたわれば |
| tara | いたわったら |
| Volitional | いたわろう |
| polite (mashou) | いたわりましょう |
| Imperative | いたわれ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym慰謝いしゃWrittenWritten/formal prose: emotional solace, met mostly in the legal word 「慰謝料」; in everyday speech say 「慰める」 or 「労る」 instead.
- Synonym慰撫いぶWrittenWritten/formal prose: general soothing and consolation, of individuals or public sentiment; rare. In daily use prefer 「慰める」 or 「宥める」.
- Related慰めるなぐさめるNeutralEases someone's sadness with kind words or company, a matter of emotional comfort; 「労る」 is about thoughtful care for the weak or rewarding hard work.
- RelatedなだめるNeutralCalms someone angry or upset, as in 「泣く子を宥める」; 「労る」 is about tender, considerate care.
- Related慰安いあんWrittenWritten/formal noun for solace and unwinding, familiar from 「慰安旅行」; 「労る」 is a verb about treating a person with considerate care.
- Related和めるなごめるWrittenWritten/formal prose: brings a person's feelings to calm; uncommon. 「労る」 focuses on considerate care of body and mind.
- Related力づけるちからづけるNeutralEncourages and cheers someone on, giving courage and confidence rather than care; 「労る」 is gentle, attentive kindness.
- Antonym虐げるしいたげるWrittenWritten/formal prose: oppresses or mistreats the weak by force, the direct opposite of 「労る」's kind treatment.
- AntonymいじめるNeutralBullies or torments, as in 「弱い者を苛める」 — the opposite of 「労る」's considerate care for the weak.
- Antonym無視するNeutralIgnores or disregards, as in 「意見を無視する」 — indifference set against 「労る」's care.
Use 「労る」 for caring considerately for the weak or the weary, as in 「老人を労る」「体を労る」. To comfort the sad, choose 「慰める」; to calm someone upset, 「宥める」; to encourage, 「力づける」. 「慰謝」 lives mostly in 「慰謝料」 and 「慰安」 in words like 「慰安旅行」, while 「慰撫」 and 「和める」 are written and uncommon. The antonyms 「虐げる」「苛める」「無視する」 express the opposite of caring.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
English equivalents
