謝る|あやまるayamaru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N4approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto apologize (apologise)
    私は彼女かのじょに謝あやまらなければならない。↗
    I must make an apology to her.
  2. godan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbto refuse; to decline
  3. godan verb, intransitive verbto be unable to bear; to be defeated (by); to be at a loss; to be stumped (by)
Conjugation
Dictionary form謝る(あやまる)
Polite (masu)謝ります(あやまります)
Negative (nai)謝らない(あやまらない)
polite (masen)謝りません(あやまりません)
classical zu / nu謝らず・謝らぬ(あやまらず・あやまらぬ)
Past (ta)謝った(あやまった)
polite (mashita)謝りました(あやまりました)
Past negative (nakatta)謝らなかった(あやまらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)謝りませんでした(あやまりませんでした)
Te form謝って(あやまって)
Potential謝れる(あやまれる)
Passive謝られる(あやまられる)
Causative謝らせる(あやまらせる)
Causative passive謝らせられる・謝らされる(あやまらせられる・あやまらされる)
Conditional (ba)謝れば(あやまれば)
tara謝ったら(あやまったら)
Volitional謝ろう(あやまろう)
polite (mashou)謝りましょう(あやまりましょう)
Imperative謝れ(あやまれ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym詫びるわびるNeutralThe same word as above: 「詫びる」 likewise means to apologize, a touch more refined and formal than 「謝る」.
  • Synonym陳謝ちんしゃFormalFormal term for apologizing while stating the reasons, as in 「陳謝の意を表す」.
  • Synonym詫び入るわびいるNeutralTo apologize wholeheartedly, as in 「平身低頭して詫び入る」; a deeper, weightier apology than 「謝る」.
  • Related謝罪しゃざいWrittenWritten/formal prose for formally admitting a fault and apologizing, as in 「謝罪会見」; usable both publicly and privately.

Default to 「謝る」. For a slightly more refined apology use 「詫びる」, a deep heartfelt one 「詫び入る」, a formal admission of fault 「謝罪」 (written style, public or private), and 「陳謝」 to apologize while stating reasons in formal contexts.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 自みずからの非(あやまり)ひを認みとめ、相手あいてに対たいして反省はんせいの意いを表あらわし、許ゆるしを請こう。
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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