独立|どくりつdokuritsu[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbindependence; self-reliance; supporting oneself; being on one's own
    彼女かのじょは両親りょうしんから独立どくりつしている。↗
    She is independent of her parents.
  2. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbindependence (e.g. of a nation); freedom
    インドは英国えいこくから1947年ねんに独立どくりつした。↗
    India gained independence from Britain in 1947.
  3. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbseparation; isolation
    頑固がんこになればなるほど独立どくりつするよ。↗
    The more stubborn you are, the more isolated you become.
Conjugation
Dictionary form独立する(どくりつする)
Polite (masu)独立します(どくりつします)
Negative (nai)独立しない(どくりつしない)
polite (masen)独立しません(どくりつしません)
classical zu / nu独立せず・独立せぬ(どくりつせず・どくりつせぬ)
Past (ta)独立した(どくりつした)
polite (mashita)独立しました(どくりつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)独立しなかった(どくりつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)独立しませんでした(どくりつしませんでした)
Te form独立して(どくりつして)
Potential独立できる(どくりつできる)
Passive独立される(どくりつされる)
Causative独立させる(どくりつさせる)
Causative passive独立させられる(どくりつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)独立すれば(どくりつすれば)
tara独立したら(どくりつしたら)
Volitional独立しよう(どくりつしよう)
polite (mashou)独立しましょう(どくりつしましょう)
Imperative独立しろ(どくりつしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym自立じりつNeutralNeutral. Standing on your own financially and in daily life; mostly about individuals. 「独立」 also covers national independence and leaving home or a company.
  • Synonym一本立ちいっぽんだちNeutralNeutral. Able to live without depending on parents or others; also used for going independent after training. 「独立」 also covers national independence.
  • Synonym自主じしゅNeutralNeutral. Judging and acting for oneself without outside interference, as in 「自主練習」 and 「自主規制」; stresses that the action is self-initiated.
  • Related自治じちNeutralNeutral. Governing or managing one's own affairs; especially local autonomy and student self-government.
  • Related独行どっこうWrittenWritten style: going or acting alone, relying on one's own strength. Rarely used.
  • Related自主独往じしゅどくおうWrittenWritten and rare: living by one's own will and judgment, without depending on others.
  • Related独立独歩どくりつどっぽWrittenWritten four-character idiom: relying on one's own strength and following one's convictions; can also mean being one of a kind.
  • Related自足じそくWrittenWritten style: providing for oneself or being self-satisfied, as in 「自給自足」.
  • Related独立独行どくりつどっこうWrittenWritten four-character idiom: acting alone, guided by one's own beliefs and convictions.
  • Antonym依存いぞんNeutralAntonym. Existing by depending on something else, as in 「依存症」; the direct opposite of 「独立」.
  • Antonym従属じゅうぞくWrittenWritten style. Being subordinate to and controlled by another; the opposite of independence and autonomy.

Use 「独立」 for a nation's independence or for leaving your parents or company to set out on your own. For supporting yourself in daily life, 「自立」 or 「一本立ち」 fits better; for doing things on your own initiative, choose 「自主」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 他ほかの束縛そくばくや助たすけを受うけず、自分じぶんの力ちからで行動こうどうすること。
  2. 国家こっかが完全かんぜんに主権しゅけんを行使こうししている状態じょうたい。
  3. 一ひとつだけが離はなれて別べつになっていること。
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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