営む|いとなむitonamu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto run (a business); to operate; to conduct; to practice (law, medicine, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto carry out; to perform; to lead (a life)
- godan verb, transitive verbto hold (a Buddhist or Shinto ceremony)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 営む（いとなむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 営みます（いとなみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 営まない（いとなまない） |
| polite (masen) | 営みません（いとなみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 営まず・営まぬ（いとなまず・いとなまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 営んだ（いとなんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 営みました（いとなみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 営まなかった（いとなまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 営みませんでした（いとなみませんでした） |
| Te form | 営んで（いとなんで） |
| Potential | 営める（いとなめる） |
| Passive | 営まれる（いとなまれる） |
| Causative | 営ませる（いとなませる） |
| Causative passive | 営ませられる・営まされる（いとなませられる・いとなまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 営めば（いとなめば） |
| tara | 営んだら（いとなんだら） |
| Volitional | 営もう（いとなもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 営みましょう（いとなみましょう） |
| Imperative | 営め（いとなめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym経営けいえいNeutralA noun for the management and running of a business, school, hospital and the like, as in 「会社を経営する」. 「営む」 also covers living one's life or holding a ceremony.
- Synonym行うおこなうNeutralThe most general word for holding or conducting something, as in 「式を行う」. It can cover long-term pursuits too, but lacks the nuance of running or managing that 「営む」 has.
- Related司るつかさどるWrittenA written word for being in charge of a duty or function, as in 「国政を司る」 or 「脳が司る機能」; it stresses responsibility and is not used for running a shop or living a life.
- RelatedなすWrittenA written, solemn word for doing or accomplishing something, as in 「事を為す」. Unlike 「営む」, it does not suggest continuously running a business or living a life.
- AntonymやめるNeutralTo stop or give up an activity, as in 「商売をやめる」; it stands opposite to 「営む」 in the sense of running or pursuing something, and is common in speech.
- Antonym辞めるやめるNeutralTo resign or leave a job, as in 「会社を辞める」; it contrasts with 「営む」 in the sense of being engaged in a profession.
- Antonym廃業するNeutralTo close down or go out of business, as in 「店を廃業する」; the opposite of 「営む」 in its sense of running a business.
「営む」 is for running a business or profession, or for living one's life, as in 「旅館を営む」 and 「生活を営む」. 「経営」 is for managing a company or similar; 「行う」 for holding or conducting things in general. 「司る」 and 「為す」 are written words; opposites: 「廃業する」, 「止める」, 「辞める」.
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
