屈服・屈伏|くっぷくkuppuku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
屈服屈服（くっぷく） is the more common written form and the recommended choice for beginners writing about yielding, submission, surrender, or giving way.
屈伏屈伏（くっぷく） is a less common written variant of 屈服（くっぷく）; learners should generally choose 屈服（くっぷく） instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbyielding; submission; surrender; giving way; succumbingとうとう彼らは敵に屈伏した。↗Finally they gave in to their enemy.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 屈服する（くっぷくする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 屈服します（くっぷくします） |
| Negative (nai) | 屈服しない（くっぷくしない） |
| polite (masen) | 屈服しません（くっぷくしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 屈服せず・屈服せぬ（くっぷくせず・くっぷくせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 屈服した（くっぷくした） |
| polite (mashita) | 屈服しました（くっぷくしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 屈服しなかった（くっぷくしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 屈服しませんでした（くっぷくしませんでした） |
| Te form | 屈服して（くっぷくして） |
| Potential | 屈服できる（くっぷくできる） |
| Passive | 屈服される（くっぷくされる） |
| Causative | 屈服させる（くっぷくさせる） |
| Causative passive | 屈服させられる（くっぷくさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 屈服すれば（くっぷくすれば） |
| tara | 屈服したら（くっぷくしたら） |
| Volitional | 屈服しよう（くっぷくしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 屈服しましょう（くっぷくしましょう） |
| Imperative | 屈服しろ（くっぷくしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym降伏こうふくWrittenWritten/formal term for surrendering after defeat in war; also for subduing demons by divine power. 「屈服」 can also mean yielding under pressure.
- Synonym投降とうこうNeutralSurrendering to the enemy, mostly in war; 「屈服」 is not limited to warfare.
- Synonym降参こうさんCasualColloquial: admitting defeat or being beaten by something, as in 「この暑さには降参だ」; 「屈服」 is more written in tone.
- SynonymギブアップCasualLoanword for giving up or quitting, used in sports, tough problems, plans and the like; 「屈服」 stresses bowing to a stronger power.
- Related観念かんねんNeutralMeans resigning yourself to the inevitable, as in 「もう観念しろ」; it can also mean an idea or concept.
- Related妥協だきょうNeutralCompromising in a dispute to reach agreement — one side or both may give way; 「屈服」 is forced submission.
- Related譲歩じょうほNeutralConceding: pulling back on your own position to accommodate the other side's; 「屈服」 is being forced to submit.
- Related伏するふくするWrittenWritten word: to prostrate oneself, or to submit to another; rarely used. In daily speech say 「屈服する」 or 「従う」.
- Antonym反抗はんこうNeutralAntonym: defying elders or authority rather than obeying — the opposite of the submission expressed by 「屈服」.
- Antonym抵抗ていこうNeutralAntonym: resisting an outside force and refusing to obey; the direct opposite of 「屈服」.
Use 「屈服」 for being forced to bow to pressure. For surrender in war choose 「降伏」 (written) or 「投降」; for admitting defeat, 「降参」 or 「ギブアップ」. For giving way in a dispute use 「妥協」 or 「譲歩」; for defying, 「抵抗」 or 「反抗」.
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
