誓う・盟う|ちかうchikau[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
誓う誓う is the most common and standard form; beginners should normally choose it.
盟う盟う is less common than 誓う and should be treated as an alternative written form rather than the default choice.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto swear; to vow; to take an oath; to pledge
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 誓う（ちかう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 誓います（ちかいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 誓わない（ちかわない） |
| polite (masen) | 誓いません（ちかいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 誓わず・誓わぬ（ちかわず・ちかわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 誓った（ちかった） |
| polite (mashita) | 誓いました（ちかいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 誓わなかった（ちかわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 誓いませんでした（ちかいませんでした） |
| Te form | 誓って（ちかって） |
| Potential | 誓える（ちかえる） |
| Passive | 誓われる（ちかわれる） |
| Causative | 誓わせる（ちかわせる） |
| Causative passive | 誓わせられる・誓わされる（ちかわせられる・ちかわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 誓えば（ちかえば） |
| tara | 誓ったら（ちかったら） |
| Volitional | 誓おう（ちかおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 誓いましょう（ちかいましょう） |
| Imperative | 誓え（ちかえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym宣誓せんせいNeutralA noun for taking an oath publicly or in legal proceedings, as in 「選手宣誓」 or 「証人の宣誓」; 「誓う」 is the general verb.
- Synonym誓約せいやくWrittenFormal word for making a solemn pledge, as in 「誓約書」 or 「誓約する」; fine in both speech and writing, while 「誓う」 is more everyday.
- Synonym誓言せいげんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a vow spoken to the gods or Buddha, or for those words themselves; 「誓う」 is the ordinary term.
- Related言い切るいいきるNeutralMeans to declare or assert something flatly, leaving no room for doubt; 「誓う」 is about pledging for the future.
- Related盟約めいやくWrittenA sworn pact or covenant, typically between states or organizations; 「誓う」 is more personal.
- Related約束やくそくNeutralThe everyday word for promises and arrangements, the most common of all; 「誓う」 is much more solemn.
- Related明言めいげんWrittenWritten/formal: stating something clearly or declaring a position publicly; 「誓う」 is about making a solemn pledge.
- Related言明げんめいWrittenFormal word for clearly declaring one's position; 「誓う」 is about vowing for the future.
- Related契るちぎるWrittenWritten word for solemn vows of eternal love, used mostly between lovers; 「誓う」 is far more general.
- Related確言かくげんWrittenWritten word for asserting or confirming something with conviction; 「誓う」 is a solemn promise.
- Related約するやくするWrittenWritten/formal prose for promising, and also for abridging or simplifying; 「誓う」 is more solemn.
- Antonym破るやぶるNeutralMeans to cut or break things, so it is not itself opposed to 「誓う」; for breaking a vow, say 「破る（やぶる）」.
- Antonym反故にするほごにするNeutralTo scrap or renege on an agreement — the direct opposite of 「誓う」, which is to vow to keep it.
Use 「誓う」 for swearing or vowing solemnly, whether privately or in public. Say 「宣誓」 for taking an oath publicly or in legal proceedings, 「誓約」 for making a formal pledge, and 「約束」 for everyday promises. For lovers' vows, 「契る」; for going back on a promise, 「反故にする」.
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
