なびく・靡くnabiku[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto bend; to flutter; to wave
- godan verb, intransitive verbto yield to; to be swayed by; to bow to; to obey
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | なびく |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | なびきます |
| Negative (nai) | なびかない |
| polite (masen) | なびきません |
| classical zu / nu | なびかず・なびかぬ |
| Past (ta) | なびいた |
| polite (mashita) | なびきました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | なびかなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | なびきませんでした |
| Te form | なびいて |
| Potential | なびける |
| Passive | なびかれる |
| Causative | なびかせる |
| Causative passive | なびかせられる・なびかされる |
| Conditional (ba) | なびけば |
| tara | なびいたら |
| Volitional | なびこう |
| polite (mashou) | なびきましょう |
| Imperative | なびけ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
彼になびく
彼をなびかす
The intransitive 靡く describes someone or something yielding or being swayed (subject marked by が), often with the influence marked by に; the transitive 靡かす puts the agent causing the yielding in the subject position and the person who yields as the direct object (marked by を).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym服従ふくじゅうFormalFormal word for obedience; stresses taking orders from others, and is more passive and negative than 「靡く」.
- Related従うしたがうNeutralThe everyday word for obeying or following; centers on complying with orders and rules, and lacks the nuance of being charmed or swept along found in 「靡く」.
- Related服するふくするWrittenWritten-style word for obeying or serving a sentence; stresses accepting orders or punishment, as in 「刑に服する」.
- Related添うそうNeutralTo meet expectations or stay at someone's side; stresses keeping close to the other party, as in 「期待に添う」.
- Related遵奉じゅんぽうFormalFormal and rare; stresses strict observance of laws and doctrines, with no nuance of being won over and swayed.
- Related随順ずいじゅんWrittenWritten and rare; meekly complying with another's opinions or a doctrine without resisting; lacks the nuance of being swept away that 「靡く」 has.
- Related体するたいするWrittenWritten style; to take someone's intent to heart and act on it, as in 「意を体する」.
- Related服すふくすWrittenWritten and rare; the godan form of 「服する」, used the same way.
- Antonym逆らうさからうNeutralAntonym: to defy or go against; the opposite of 「靡く」 bending with the wind or yielding to someone.
- Antonym反抗はんこうNeutralAntonym: defiance, refusing to obey; the opposite of 「靡く」 being won over by someone.
- Antonym抗うあらがうWrittenWritten style; to resist or oppose; the opposite of 「靡く」 yielding once persuaded.
Use 「靡く」 for flags or hair fluttering in the wind, or for being swayed into compliance by power or money, as in 「風に靡く」「金に靡く」. For obeying orders, 「従う」 is the default; the opposite is 「逆らう」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
English equivalents
See also
