後ずさり・後退り・後じさり|あとずさりatozusari[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
あとじさりatojisari
Which spelling to use
後ずさり後ずさり is the most common of these written forms and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when you need to write this word.
後退り後退り is less common than 後ずさり and is a variant written with different kanji; learners should normally choose 後ずさり.
後じさり後じさり is less common than 後退り and 後ずさり. Treat it as a variant you may encounter in writing, rather than your first choice.
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbstepping back; drawing back
    彼かれはぱっと後あとずさりした。↗
    He backed abruptly away.
Conjugation
Dictionary form後ずさりする(あとずさりする)
Polite (masu)後ずさりします(あとずさりします)
Negative (nai)後ずさりしない(あとずさりしない)
polite (masen)後ずさりしません(あとずさりしません)
classical zu / nu後ずさりせず・後ずさりせぬ(あとずさりせず・あとずさりせぬ)
Past (ta)後ずさりした(あとずさりした)
polite (mashita)後ずさりしました(あとずさりしました)
Past negative (nakatta)後ずさりしなかった(あとずさりしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)後ずさりしませんでした(あとずさりしませんでした)
Te form後ずさりして(あとずさりして)
Potential後ずさりできる(あとずさりできる)
Passive後ずさりされる(あとずさりされる)
Causative後ずさりさせる(あとずさりさせる)
Causative passive後ずさりさせられる(あとずさりさせられる)
Conditional (ba)後ずさりすれば(あとずさりすれば)
tara後ずさりしたら(あとずさりしたら)
Volitional後ずさりしよう(あとずさりしよう)
polite (mashou)後ずさりしましょう(あとずさりしましょう)
Imperative後ずさりしろ(あとずさりしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym後ずさるあとずさるCasualThe verb form of 「後ずさり」; colloquial, and like the headword it means backing away while facing forward.
  • Related後退こうたいNeutralNeutral word for moving backward, fine in both speech and writing; also economic decline. Unlike 「後ずさり」, it doesn't imply backing up while facing forward.
  • Antonym前進ぜんしんNeutralThe opposite of 「後ずさり」: moving forward, also used figuratively for progress toward a goal.

Use 「後ずさり」 for backing away while facing forward, often shrinking back in fear, as in 「思わず後ずさりする」; the verb is 「後ずさる」. For backward movement in general, including economic decline, use 「後退」. The opposite is 「前進」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 前まえを向むいたまま後退こうたいすること。
Kanji in this word
See also

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