かまう・構うkamau[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, intransitive verbto mind; to care about; to be concerned about; to have a regard for
    6時じに起おきるのはかまわない。↗
    I don't mind getting up at six.
  2. godan verb, intransitive verbto be an issue; to matter; to create inconvenience
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto keep company; to care for; to look after; to entertain; to pay attention to; to spend time with
    この子供達こどもたちは親おやにかまってもらえない。↗
    These children are neglected by their parents.
  4. godan verb, intransitive verbto interfere with; to meddle in
    どうか私にかまわないでください。↗
    Please don't mind me.
  5. godan verb, transitive verbto tease
  6. godan verb, transitive verbto banish; to prohibit
Conjugation
Dictionary formかまう
Polite (masu)かまいます
Negative (nai)かまわない
polite (masen)かまいません
classical zu / nuかまわず・かまわぬ
Past (ta)かまった
polite (mashita)かまいました
Past negative (nakatta)かまわなかった
polite (masen deshita)かまいませんでした
Te formかまって
Potentialかまえる
Passiveかまわれる
Causativeかまわせる
Causative passiveかまわせられる・かまわされる
Conditional (ba)かまえば
taraかまったら
Volitionalかまおう
polite (mashou)かまいましょう
Imperativeかまえ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym意に介するいにかいするWrittenWritten/formal prose. Usually in the negative 「意に介さない」, meaning not to care at all — more literary than 「構わない」.
  • Related心配しんぱいNeutralNeutral. Worrying about something, e.g. 「将来を心配する」; it stresses anxiety, while 「構う」 stresses minding or taking notice.
  • Related留意りゅういWrittenWritten/formal prose. Paying close attention, e.g. 「健康に留意する」; often used in reminders and public notices.
  • Related心するこころするWrittenWritten/formal prose. Being attentive and careful, e.g. 「心して聞け」; carries a solemn, admonishing tone.
  • Antonym無視するNeutralNeutral. Ignoring or paying no heed, e.g. 「意見を無視する」; the opposite of 「構う」 in its sense of taking notice.
  • Antonym放置するNeutralNeutral. Leaving something unattended, e.g. 「自転車を放置する」; the opposite of 「構う」 in its caretaking sense.

「構う」 is mostly used in the negative — 「構わない」 ('it doesn't matter'), 「気にしないで構わない」 — and also means to take notice of or fuss over, as in 「子どもを構う」. To mind something say 「気にする」, to look after someone 「世話をする」; to ignore is 「無視する」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. (打消うちけしの語ごを伴ともなって)気きに掛かける。配慮はいりょする。
  2. (打消うちけしや反語はんごを伴ともなって)支障ししょうなくできる。許可きょかされる。大丈夫だいじょうぶだ。
  3. (打消うちけしを伴ともなって)しなくてよい。不要ふようだ。
  4. 相手あいてをする。気きにかける。
  5. 世話せわをする。遊あそぶ。からかう。気きにしてしょっちゅう触さわる。
  6. こだわる。かかわる。
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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