褒める・誉める・賞める・称める・讃める|ほめるhomeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
褒める褒める is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners. Use it when writing or learning this word.
誉める誉める is less common than 褒める. It is another kanji-and-kana spelling, but beginners should choose 褒める instead.
賞める賞める is rarely used, so you will seldom see it. When choosing a spelling, use 褒める instead.
称める称める is rarely used, so you will seldom see it. When choosing a spelling, use 褒める instead.
讃める讃める is rarely used, so you will seldom see it. When choosing a spelling, use 褒める instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto praise; to commend; to compliment; to speak well of; to speak highly of
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 褒める（ほめる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 褒めます（ほめます） |
| Negative (nai) | 褒めない（ほめない） |
| polite (masen) | 褒めません（ほめません） |
| classical zu / nu | 褒めず・褒めぬ（ほめず・ほめぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 褒めた（ほめた） |
| polite (mashita) | 褒めました（ほめました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 褒めなかった（ほめなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 褒めませんでした（ほめませんでした） |
| Te form | 褒めて（ほめて） |
| Potential | 褒められる（ほめられる） |
| Passive | 褒められる（ほめられる） |
| Causative | 褒めさせる（ほめさせる） |
| Causative passive | 褒めさせられる（ほめさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 褒めれば（ほめれば） |
| tara | 褒めたら（ほめたら） |
| Volitional | 褒めよう（ほめよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 褒めましょう（ほめましょう） |
| Imperative | 褒めろ（ほめろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym絶賛ぜっさんWrittenWritten/formal prose: unstinting, rave acclaim, as in 「絶賛の嵐」; mostly used in evaluating works.
- Synonym喝采かっさいNeutralNeutral: cheering and applause, as in 「拍手喝采」; a crowd voicing approval aloud.
- Synonym賞賛しょうさんWrittenWritten/formal prose: praise or commendation, as in 「賞賛を浴びる」; more formal than 「褒める」.
- Synonym褒め称えるほめたたえるWrittenWritten/formal prose: to praise lavishly, as in 「功績を褒め称える」; grander and more ceremonial than 「褒める」.
- Synonym称えるたたえるWrittenWritten/formal prose: to extol with respect, as in 「勇気を称える」; mostly for achievements and virtue.
- Synonym褒め上げるほめあげるCasualColloquial: to praise someone extravagantly, as in 「褒め上げて気分を良くする」; carries a sense of building the person up.
- Synonym褒めちぎるほめちぎるCasualColloquial: to praise nonstop, as in 「みんなで褒めちぎる」; exaggerated in tone.
- Synonym褒め立てるほめたてるCasualColloquial: to praise someone on and on, as in 「褒め立てる」; can carry a whiff of flattery.
- Synonym褒めそやすほめそやすWrittenWritten/formal prose: to praise repeatedly and lavishly, as in 「世間が褒めそやす」; sometimes faintly ironic.
- Synonym褒め奉るほめまつるWrittenWritten/formal prose: to praise reverently; archaic and rarely used today.
- Related賛美さんびWrittenWritten/formal prose: to glorify and praise, as in 「神を賛美する」.
- Related感心かんしんNeutralNeutral: to be impressed or admire, as in 「その努力に感心する」; about the inner feeling, not voiced praise.
- Related感嘆かんたんWrittenWritten/formal prose: wonder and admiration, as in 「感嘆の声を上げる」.
- Related驚嘆きょうたんWrittenWritten/formal prose: astonishment mixed with admiration, as in 「驚嘆に値する」; stresses the surprise.
- Related礼賛らいさんWrittenWritten/formal prose: worshipful praise, as in 「自然礼賛」; carries reverence.
- Related嘆賞たんしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose: to praise in deep admiration, as in 「その技を嘆賞する」.
- Related賛嘆さんたんWrittenWritten/formal prose: deep admiration, as in 「賛嘆の声」; stresses being impressed and moved.
- Related賛するさんするWrittenWritten/formal prose: to endorse, or to inscribe words of praise, as in 「画に賛する」.
- Related賞するしょうするWrittenWritten/formal prose: to appreciate or admire, as in 「月を賞する」.
- Related賞嘆しょうたんWrittenWritten/formal prose: admiring praise; close in sense to 「賞賛」.
- Related三嘆さんたんWrittenWritten/formal prose: repeated admiration, usually in the set phrase 「一読三嘆」.
- Related嘆美たんびWrittenWritten/formal prose: admiring praise; rare, close to 「賛嘆」 but even more obscure.
- AntonymけなすNeutralAntonym: to run something down or pick it apart, as in 「作品を貶す」; the opposite of praising.
- AntonymしかるNeutralAntonym: to scold, as in 「子供を叱る」; pointing out faults instead of praising.
For everyday praise, use 「褒める」. For grand, ceremonial praise pick 「称える」 or 「褒め称える」; for rave acclaim of works, 「絶賛」; for praising nonstop, 「褒めちぎる」. When you mean inner admiration rather than spoken praise, use 「感心」; for a crowd cheering, 「喝采」. The antonyms are 「貶す」 (to run down) and 「叱る」 (to scold). Most of the remaining Sino-Japanese terms lean toward a written, formal style.
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
