Japanese word

ならう

Pronunciation

Romajinarau

Meaning

  • verbimitate

Example

私は先生の話し方にならいます。watashi wa sen sei no hana shi kata ni na ra i ma su

I imitate my teacher's way of speaking.

Illustration for ならう (imitate)

More examples

先輩の仕事ぶりにならって、効率のよい方法を試しました。sen pai no shi goto bu ri ni na ra tte kō ritsu no yo i hō hō o tame shi ma shi ta

Following the example of my senior colleague, I tried an efficient method.

Core concept

It describes following a model closely so that one's actions or manner resemble the model's.

Common phrases

  • 成功例にならうsei kō rei ni na ra u

    follow a successful example

  • 他人にならうta nin ni na ra u

    imitate others

  • 古人にならうko jin ni na ra u

    follow the ancients

Similar words

真似るmaneru: To reproduce another person's actions, speech, or manner, usually without a formal process.
見習うminarau: To study a person's example and develop similar skills or conduct.
模倣するmohōsuru: To reproduce the characteristics or behavior of a model, especially as a method or style.

Definition in Japanese

人や物を手本にして、そのやり方や様子を同じようにする。hito ya mono o te hon ni shi te so no ya ri kata ya yō su o ona ji yō ni su ru

Word origin

Japanese ならう (narau, "to imitate") has the older recorded form ならふ (narafu, "to follow a model"); the spelling 倣う (narau, "to imitate") represents this native verb with a meaning-based kanji.

Usage tips

  • The verb ならう (narau) often sounds more formal than a casual description of copying someone, so it commonly appears when the model is a recognized style, method, or tradition.

Other meanings

  • followverb

Related words

  • ならいnaraiimitationnoun

Word lists with this word