背く・叛く|そむくsomuku[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
背く背く is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it when you need to write this verb.
叛く叛く is a less common written variant of 背く; learners will more often encounter and should generally choose 背く instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto run counter to; to go against; to disobey; to infringe
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 背く（そむく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 背きます（そむきます） |
| Negative (nai) | 背かない（そむかない） |
| polite (masen) | 背きません（そむきません） |
| classical zu / nu | 背かず・背かぬ（そむかず・そむかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 背いた（そむいた） |
| polite (mashita) | 背きました（そむきました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 背かなかった（そむかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 背きませんでした（そむきませんでした） |
| Te form | 背いて（そむいて） |
| Potential | 背ける（そむける） |
| Passive | 背かれる（そむかれる） |
| Causative | 背かせる（そむかせる） |
| Causative passive | 背かせられる・背かされる（そむかせられる・そむかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 背けば（そむけば） |
| tara | 背いたら（そむいたら） |
| Volitional | 背こう（そむこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 背きましょう（そむきましょう） |
| Imperative | 背け（そむけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
約束に背く
顔を背ける
背く (intransitive) emphasizes the act of turning away from or going against something (marked by に), while 背ける (transitive) focuses on turning a specific object (marked by を) away.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym楯突くたてつくNeutralDefying or talking back to a superior, openly resisting orders or rules; 「背く」 is about not doing as ordered or expected, not necessarily open confrontation.
- Synonym反するはんするNeutralMeans being contrary to something, or violating rules or morals, as in 「規則に反する」「予想に反する」; 「背く」 centers on turning away from orders or expectations.
- Synonym逆らうさからうNeutralCovers defying or flouting, and often moving against a current or wind, as in 「流れに逆らう」; 「背く」 is mainly about departing from orders, rules, or morality.
- Synonym歯向かうはむかうNeutralResisting or striking back at someone stronger than oneself; 「背く」 is about failing to follow orders or expectations, without necessarily confronting.
- Synonym裏切るうらぎるNeutralBetraying companions or letting down trust and expectations, as in 「期待を裏切る」; 「背く」 centers on not following orders or rules.
- Synonym手向かうてむかうNeutralResisting or defying the other side's force or orders; rare. 「背く」 is about not following rules or expectations.
- Related違反いはんNeutralA noun for breaking rules or laws, as in 「交通違反」, leaning legal; 「背く」 is a verb and can also cover expectations and morality.
- Related破るやぶるNeutralLiterally to tear or break, extended to breaking promises or rules, as in 「約束を破る」; 「背く」 centers on defying orders or expectations.
- Related反抗はんこうNeutralA noun for open defiance of elders or authority, as in 「反抗期」; 「背く」 is about noncompliance and need not be a direct confrontation.
- Related犯すおかすNeutralCommitting a crime or mistake, also violating rules, as in 「罪を犯す」; 「背く」 centers on going against orders or morality.
- Related違背いはいWrittenWritten/formal prose for violating rules or orders, used rarely; close in meaning to 「背く」, which is the everyday choice, along with 「違反」.
- Related抗するこうするWrittenWritten/formal prose for resisting or opposing an outside force, as in 「時流に抗する」; 「背く」 is about not obeying orders.
- Related違犯いはんWrittenWritten/formal prose, a legal term for breaking the law and committing an offense; 「背く」 is broader, covering expectations and morality too.
- Related抗命こうめいWrittenWritten/formal prose for defying a superior's orders, rare; 「背く」 is not limited to orders and can also mean betraying expectations or morality.
- Antonym従うしたがうNeutralObeying or following orders and rules, as in 「指示に従う」; the antonym of 「背く」 in its sense of defying orders.
- Antonym服するふくするWrittenWritten/formal prose for obeying orders, also serving a sentence or observing mourning; the antonym of 「背く」 as defiance.
Use 「背く」 for going against orders, rules, or expectations, or turning from morality, as in 「親の期待に背く」. For being contrary to something, say 「反する」; for defying, 「逆らう」; for betraying, 「裏切る」; for obeying, 「従う」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
