牛耳る|ぎゅうじるgyuujiru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto control; to take the lead in; to have under one's thumb
Conjugation
Dictionary form牛耳る(ぎゅうじる)
Polite (masu)牛耳ります(ぎゅうじります)
Negative (nai)牛耳らない(ぎゅうじらない)
polite (masen)牛耳りません(ぎゅうじりません)
classical zu / nu牛耳らず・牛耳らぬ(ぎゅうじらず・ぎゅうじらぬ)
Past (ta)牛耳った(ぎゅうじった)
polite (mashita)牛耳りました(ぎゅうじりました)
Past negative (nakatta)牛耳らなかった(ぎゅうじらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)牛耳りませんでした(ぎゅうじりませんでした)
Te form牛耳って(ぎゅうじって)
Potential牛耳れる(ぎゅうじれる)
Passive牛耳られる(ぎゅうじられる)
Causative牛耳らせる(ぎゅうじらせる)
Causative passive牛耳らせられる・牛耳らされる(ぎゅうじらせられる・ぎゅうじらされる)
Conditional (ba)牛耳れば(ぎゅうじれば)
tara牛耳ったら(ぎゅうじったら)
Volitional牛耳ろう(ぎゅうじろう)
polite (mashou)牛耳りましょう(ぎゅうじりましょう)
Imperative牛耳れ(ぎゅうじれ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym支配しはいNeutralNeutral and broader in scope than 「牛耳る」: placing someone or something under your power and directing it as you please, stated more objectively.
  • Related治めるおさめるWrittenWritten: to govern a country or region so that it is stable and orderly; positive in tone, unlike the manipulative 「牛耳る」.
  • Related統べるすべるWrittenWritten: to rule over and unify the whole, from the ruler's standpoint. Unlike 「牛耳る」, it carries no pejorative nuance of manipulating or monopolizing.
  • Related制すせいすWrittenWritten and rare: to press an opponent down and take control of the situation; it stresses subduing the other side.
  • Antonym従うしたがうNeutralThe opposite of 「牛耳る」: to obey and follow someone's orders or a rule instead of controlling others.
  • Antonym服従ふくじゅうWrittenWritten style: obedience or submission to another's will — quietly doing as told, the reverse of 「牛耳る」.

Use 「牛耳る」 for holding the leading role in a group and running it at will, as in 「業界を牛耳る」; it is slightly derogatory. For objective domination say 「支配」; for governing a country, 「治める」. 「統べる」 and 「制す」 are written-style; the opposites are 「従う」 and 「服従」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 中心人物ちゅうしんじんぶつとなり、皆みなを思おもい通とおりに動うごかす。
Kanji in this word

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