Japanese Conversation · Level 37
90 words
Japanese word
うつむく
Pronunciation
Romajiutsumuku
Meaning
- verbhang one's head
Example
失敗したので、彼はうつむきました。ship pai shi ta no de kare wa u tsu mu ki ma shi ta
Because he failed, he hung his head.
More examples
考え込むようにうつむいて、しばらく黙っていました。kanga e ko mu yō ni u tsu mu i te shi ba ra ku dama tte i ma shi ta
They bowed their head as if deep in thought and stayed silent for a while.
Core concept
The word describes a downward movement of the face that can be either a neutral change in posture or a visible sign of feeling.
Common phrases
うつむいて歩くu tsu mu i te aru ku
walk with one's head down
深くうつむくfuka ku u tsu mu ku
bow one's head deeply
Similar words
うなだれるunadareru: To let the head droop, usually because of sadness, shame, or defeat.
Definition in Japanese
顔や頭を下に向ける。落ち込んだり恥じたりして頭を垂れる。kao ya atama o shita ni mu ke ru o chi ko n da ri ha ji ta ri shi te atama o ta re ru
Word origin
The native Japanese verb うつむく (utsumuku) is the modern form of うつぶく (utsubuku), an older verb meaning "to face downward"; its earlier components are not securely known.
Usage tips
- Stage directions and scene descriptions use うつむく (utsumuku) to show a visible reaction while leaving the character's exact feeling unstated.
Other meanings
- look downverb
Opposites
- 仰向くaomukuface upwardverb
Related words
- うつむきutsumukibowed headnoun
- うつむけるutsumukerulower one's headverb