呪う・詛う|のろうnorou[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
呪う呪う（のろう） is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners; use it when writing the word.
詛う詛う（のろう） is a less common written variant of the same word; recognize it, but choose 呪う（のろう） when writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 呪う（のろう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 呪います（のろいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 呪わない（のろわない） |
| polite (masen) | 呪いません（のろいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 呪わず・呪わぬ（のろわず・のろわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 呪った（のろった） |
| polite (mashita) | 呪いました（のろいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 呪わなかった（のろわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 呪いませんでした（のろいませんでした） |
| Te form | 呪って（のろって） |
| Potential | 呪える（のろえる） |
| Passive | 呪われる（のろわれる） |
| Causative | 呪わせる（のろわせる） |
| Causative passive | 呪わせられる・呪わされる（のろわせられる・のろわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 呪えば（のろえば） |
| tara | 呪ったら（のろったら） |
| Volitional | 呪おう（のろおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 呪いましょう（のろいましょう） |
| Imperative | 呪え（のろえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym呪詛じゅそWrittenA written-style noun for cursing, with religious and magical overtones; 「呪う」 is the verb, also used figuratively for intense resentment.
- Related祟るたたるNeutralThe harm comes from a god or vengeful spirit, or figuratively from a past deed, as in 「無理が祟る」 — not from a person actively cursing.
- Antonym祝福するNeutralThe antonym: to bless — the direct opposite of 「呪う」 in its cursing sense.
Use 「呪う」 for cursing someone or resenting fate, as in 「運命を呪う」. For a written-style noun with religious overtones, use 「呪詛」; for spirits working harm or a deed backfiring, use 「祟る」. The opposite of cursing is 「祝福する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
