Japanese word

へりくだる

Pronunciation

Romajiherikudaru

Meaning

  • verbhumble oneself

Example

彼は先生の前でへりくだります。kare wa sen sei no mae de he ri ku da ri ma su

He humbles himself before his teacher.

Illustration for へりくだる (humble oneself)

More examples

彼女は相手にへりくだり、丁寧に頼みました。kano jo wa ai te ni he ri ku da ri tei nei ni tano mi ma shi ta

She humbled herself before the other person and asked politely.

Core concept

It describes lowering one's own standing so that another person is treated as higher and more important.

Common phrases

  • 相手にへりくだるai te ni he ri ku da ru

    humble oneself to someone

  • へりくだった態度he ri ku da tta tai do

    a self-effacing attitude

Similar words

謙遜するkensonsuru: To speak or act modestly by playing down one's abilities or achievements.
卑下するhigesuru: To describe one's own worth or abilities as lower than they are.
かしこまるkashikomaru: It describes taking a formal and respectful manner in another person's presence.

Definition in Japanese

自分を控えめに扱い、相手を立てること。ji bun o hika e me ni atsuka i ai te o ta te ru ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb へりくだる (herikudaru) combines the ideas of becoming less in へる (heru, "to become less") and going down in くだる (kudaru, "to go down").

Usage tips

  • In formal Japanese, へりくだる (herikudaru) refers to behavior that shows respect by placing the speaker below the other person in status.

Other meanings

  • deprecate oneselfverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word