Japanese word

いたわる

Pronunciation

Romajiitawaru

Meaning

  • verbtreat kindly

Example

病気の友達をいたわります。byō ki no tomo dachi o i ta wa ri ma su

I treat my sick friend kindly.

Illustration for いたわる (treat kindly)

More examples

忙しい日でも、自分の体をいたわります。isoga shi i hi de mo ji bun no karada o i ta wa ri ma su

Even on busy days, I take care of my body.

Core concept

It centers on responding to another person's hardship with gentle care rather than leaving them to cope alone.

Common phrases

  • 体をいたわるkarada o i ta wa ru

    take care of one's body

  • 自分をいたわるji bun o i ta wa ru

    take care of oneself

  • 人をいたわるhito o i ta wa ru

    treat people kindly

Similar words

気遣うkizukau: To consider someone's condition and act with concern for their well-being.
大事にするdaijinisuru: To care for a person or thing in a way that protects its condition.
慰めるnagusameru: To give comfort that helps someone endure sadness, pain, or disappointment.

Definition in Japanese

弱い立場や苦しい状況にある人に、思いやりをもって接する。yowa i tachi ba ya kuru shi i jō kyō ni a ru hito ni omo i ya ri o mo tte ses su ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb いたわる (itawaru) is historically recorded as いたはる (itaharu), meaning "to treat with care", and is also written 労る (itawaru).

Usage tips

  • The expression 自分の体をいたわる (jibun no karada o itawaru) shows that いたわる (itawaru) also describes taking care of one's own body.

Other meanings

  • comfortverb
  • take care ofverb

Opposites

  • 冷遇するreigūsurutreat coldlyverb
  • 虐げるshiitageruoppressverb

Related words

  • いたわりitawarikindnessnoun

Word lists with this word