尊敬|そんけいsonkei[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbrespect; esteem; reverence; honour; honor
    あなたはだれからも尊敬そんけいされている。↗
    You're respected by everybody.
Conjugation
Dictionary form尊敬する(そんけいする)
Polite (masu)尊敬します(そんけいします)
Negative (nai)尊敬しない(そんけいしない)
polite (masen)尊敬しません(そんけいしません)
classical zu / nu尊敬せず・尊敬せぬ(そんけいせず・そんけいせぬ)
Past (ta)尊敬した(そんけいした)
polite (mashita)尊敬しました(そんけいしました)
Past negative (nakatta)尊敬しなかった(そんけいしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)尊敬しませんでした(そんけいしませんでした)
Te form尊敬して(そんけいして)
Potential尊敬できる(そんけいできる)
Passive尊敬される(そんけいされる)
Causative尊敬させる(そんけいさせる)
Causative passive尊敬させられる(そんけいさせられる)
Conditional (ba)尊敬すれば(そんけいすれば)
tara尊敬したら(そんけいしたら)
Volitional尊敬しよう(そんけいしよう)
polite (mashou)尊敬しましょう(そんけいしましょう)
Imperative尊敬しろ(そんけいしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym尊重そんちょうNeutralRespect for things like others' opinions or human rights, as in 「意見を尊重する」; 「尊敬」 is admiration for a person's character.
  • Synonym敬ううやまうNeutralVerb for treating worthy people or gods with respect, as in 「年長者を敬う」; 「尊敬」 is a noun or suru verb.
  • Synonym敬意けいいNeutralNoun for respect, often in 「敬意を表す」; 「尊敬」 is the feeling of admiration itself.
  • Synonym畏敬いけいWrittenWritten/formal awe, as in 「畏敬の念」; unlike 「尊敬」 it includes a sense of fear.
  • Synonym敬愛けいあいWrittenRespect combined with affection, as in 「先生を敬愛する」; 「尊敬」 does not include love.
  • Synonym敬服けいふくNeutralAdmiration born of being impressed by something; 「尊敬」 centres on respect for the person.
  • Synonym尊ぶとうとぶNeutralVerb for valuing or prizing something, as in 「和を尊ぶ」; 「尊敬」 is directed at people.
  • Synonym欽慕きんぼWrittenWritten/formal word for admiring and looking up to someone; in everyday speech use 「尊敬」.
  • Synonym欽仰きんぎょうWrittenWritten/formal term for deep reverence; not used in everyday speech.
  • Synonym恭敬きょうけいWrittenWritten/formal word for a cautious, courteous attitude of reverence; 「尊敬」 stresses the feeling of respect.
  • Synonym敬慕けいぼWrittenWritten/formal word for loving and looking up to someone; in daily speech use 「尊敬」.
  • Synonym尊崇そんすうWrittenWritten/formal veneration of gods, sages, figures or thinkers; more solemn than 「尊敬」.
  • Synonym敬するけいするWrittenWritten/formal and rare verb meaning to respect; 「敬う」 is the everyday word.
  • Synonym敬けいWrittenWritten/formal word for respect, rarely used alone; mostly seen in compounds like 「敬意」 and 「敬語」.
  • Synonym崇めるあがめるNeutralVerb for worshipping gods or exalting something; 「尊敬」 is more everyday.
  • Synonym崇敬すうけいWrittenWritten/formal reverence, often for shrines or ancestors; in daily speech use 「尊敬」.
  • Related崇拝すうはいNeutralWorship — much stronger, typically for idols or religion; 「尊敬」 is a milder esteem.
  • Related敬畏けいいWrittenAwe — respect mixed with fear, mostly for gods or nature; 「尊敬」 carries no fear.
  • Antonym軽蔑けいべつNeutralAntonym: contempt, looking down on someone — the opposite attitude to 「尊敬」.
  • Antonym侮蔑ぶべつNeutralAntonym: scorn or disdain, treating someone as beneath you — opposite in attitude to 「尊敬」.
  • Antonym蔑視べっしNeutralAntonym: contempt or derision — the opposite attitude to 「尊敬」.
  • Antonym侮辱ぶじょくNeutralAntonym: words or acts that shame someone — the reverse of 「尊敬」, which honours the other person.

Use 「尊敬」 for admiring someone's character. For respecting opinions or rights use 「尊重」; the everyday verb is 「敬う」; to express respect say 「敬意」. 「崇拝」 is worship of idols or religion; 「敬愛」 adds affection; 「敬服」 is admiration after being impressed; 「畏敬」 and 「敬畏」 add awe. The written/formal 欽慕, 欽仰, 恭敬, 敬慕, 尊崇, 敬する, 敬, 崇敬 are rare in speech. Antonyms: 「軽蔑」, 「侮蔑」, 「蔑視」, 「侮辱」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. その人ひとの品格ひんかくや行為こういなどを崇たかしいとして認みとめ、重おもく扱あつかうこと。敬うやまうこと。すぐれた人ひとに敬意けいいや尊崇そんすうの念ねんを感かんじること。またそのような感情かんじょう。
  2. 話し手はなしてが聞き手ききてや話題わだいの主ぬし、動作どうさ、状態じょうたいなどを敬うやまう言い方いいかた。
  3. その人ひとの品格ひんかくや行為こういなどを崇たかしいとして認みとめ、重おもく扱あつかう。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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

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