贔屓・贔負|ひいきhiiki[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
贔屓贔屓 is written entirely in kanji and is the most common written form; learners should normally choose it.
贔負贔負 is written entirely in kanji but is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it and should normally choose 贔屓 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbfavour; favor; patronage; favouritism; favoritism; partiality
- no-adjectivefavourite; favorite
- nounpatron; supporter; backer
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 贔屓する（ひいきする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 贔屓します（ひいきします） |
| Negative (nai) | 贔屓しない（ひいきしない） |
| polite (masen) | 贔屓しません（ひいきしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 贔屓せず・贔屓せぬ（ひいきせず・ひいきせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 贔屓した（ひいきした） |
| polite (mashita) | 贔屓しました（ひいきしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 贔屓しなかった（ひいきしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 贔屓しませんでした（ひいきしませんでした） |
| Te form | 贔屓して（ひいきして） |
| Potential | 贔屓できる（ひいきできる） |
| Passive | 贔屓される（ひいきされる） |
| Causative | 贔屓させる（ひいきさせる） |
| Causative passive | 贔屓させられる（ひいきさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 贔屓すれば（ひいきすれば） |
| tara | 贔屓したら（ひいきしたら） |
| Volitional | 贔屓しよう（ひいきしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 贔屓しましょう（ひいきしましょう） |
| Imperative | 贔屓しろ（ひいきしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym愛顧あいこWrittenWritten/formal word for the patronage of customers or clients; typical of businesses thanking their patrons, as in 「ご愛顧」. Not personal favoritism.
- Synonym寵愛ちょうあいWrittenWritten/formal: doting, indulgent affection, as in 「君主の寵愛」; it is about being fondly cherished, not patronage or backing.
- Related引き立てるひきたてるNeutralNeutral verb for helping someone on or setting them off to advantage, as in 「後輩を引き立てる」; it leans toward actively promoting a person.
- Related引き立てひきたてNeutralNeutral noun for favor and backing; most often heard in the set phrase 「お引き立て」, used to thank someone for their support.
- Antonym冷遇れいぐうWrittenWritten/formal word for treating someone coldly; the direct opposite of the favoritism of 「贔屓」.
- Antonym公平こうへいNeutralNeutral word for fair, even-handed treatment; it stands opposite the bias of 「贔屓」.
Use 「贔屓」 for favoritism, partiality or cheering a favorite on, as in 「えこ贔屓」 and 「贔屓のチーム」. Businesses thank customers with 「ご愛顧」; helping someone get ahead is 「引き立て」; for fairness say 「公平」.
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
