添う・副う|そうsou[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
添う添う is the more common written form for this meaning; learners can use it when writing about meeting wishes, expectations, or other requirements.
副う副う is a less common written variant of 添う for this meaning; learners may encounter it, but 添う is the preferable choice for writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto meet (wishes, expectations, etc.); to satisfy; to comply with; to live up to
- godan verb, intransitive verbto accompany; to go with; to stay by one's side
- godan verb, intransitive verbto associate with (someone); to mix with
- godan verb, intransitive verbto marry; to wedesp. 添う
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be addedesp. 添う
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 添う（そう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 添います（そいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 添わない（そわない） |
| polite (masen) | 添いません（そいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 添わず・添わぬ（そわず・そわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 添った（そった） |
| polite (mashita) | 添いました（そいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 添わなかった（そわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 添いませんでした（そいませんでした） |
| Te form | 添って（そって） |
| Potential | 添える（そえる） |
| Passive | 添われる（そわれる） |
| Causative | 添わせる（そわせる） |
| Causative passive | 添わせられる・添わされる（そわせられる・そわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 添えば（そえば） |
| tara | 添ったら（そったら） |
| Volitional | 添おう（そおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 添いましょう（そいましょう） |
| Imperative | 添え（そえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
花が添う
添う emphasizes the event or resulting state, as in 花が添う; 添える foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in 花を添える.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym付き添うつきそうNeutralNeutral: to attend on someone needing care, as in 「病人に付き添う」; the focus is looking after them.
- Related伴うともなうNeutralNeutral: to accompany or bring along, often in abstract contexts, as in 「危険を伴う」 or 「子供を伴う」.
- Related従うしたがうNeutralNeutral and the most general of these: to obey or follow along, as in 「指示に従う」 or 「川に従って」.
- Related随伴ずいはんWrittenWritten/formal prose noun for accompanying someone, as in 「随伴者」.
- Related同行どうこうNeutralNeutral noun stressing going somewhere together, as in 「記者が同行する」.
- Related付随ふずいNeutralNeutral noun for being incidental or attached to something, mostly about things, as in 「付随する問題」.
- Related同伴どうはんNeutralNeutral noun for bringing a companion along, mostly at banquets and official occasions, as in 「夫人同伴」.
- Related随行ずいこうWrittenWritten/formal prose noun for officials travelling with a superior, as in 「随行員」.
- Related付き従うつきしたがうWrittenWritten/formal prose: to follow obediently behind someone, as in 「主君に付き従う」. 「添う」 instead stresses staying at a person's side or meeting expectations.
- Relatedお供おともNeutralNeutral noun for accompanying someone, often as a humble expression toward a superior, as in 「お供します」.
- Related同道どうどうNeutralNeutral noun meaning travelling the same way; dated and rarely used.
- Relatedご一緒ごいっしょNeutralNeutral noun used in polite speech for going together, as in 「ご一緒します」.
- Antonym離れるはなれるNeutralNeutral antonym: to leave or move away, as in 「そばを離れる」 — the opposite of 「添う」 as staying close.
- Antonym反するはんするNeutralNeutral antonym: to go against, as in 「期待に反する」 — the opposite of 「期待に添う」.
Use 「添う」 for staying at someone's side, marrying, or meeting expectations (「寄り添う」「期待に添う」「添い遂げる」). For obeying or following, say 「従う」; for attending to someone needing care, 「付き添う」; for officials travelling with a superior, 「随行」. The opposite is 「離れる」.
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
