Japanese word

伴う

Pronunciation

Romajitomonau

Meaning

  • verbaccompany

Example

新しい仕事には責任が伴います。atara shi i shi goto ni wa seki nin ga tomona i ma su

A new job comes with responsibility.

Illustration for 伴う (accompany)

More examples

彼女は海外出張に秘書を伴いました。kano jo wa kai gai shut chō ni hi sho o tomona i ma shi ta

She took her secretary with her on her business trip abroad.

Core concept

It describes one person or thing going together with another or occurring alongside it.

Common phrases

  • 子どもを伴うko do mo o tomona u

    accompany children

  • 家族を伴うka zoku o tomona u

    accompany family members

  • 友人を伴うyū jin o tomona u

    accompany a friend

Similar words

同行するdōkōsuru: To accompany another person or group on a journey or visit.
付き添うtsukisou: To go with someone and remain nearby to help or care for them.
連れるtsureru: To bring a person or animal along to a place.

Definition in Japanese

人や物が、別の人や物と一緒に行動したり、それに付随して生じたりする。hito ya mono ga betsu no hito ya mono to is sho ni kō dō shi ta ri so re ni fu zui shi te shō ji ta ri su ru

Word origin

The native verb 伴う (tomonau) developed from the older form 伴ふ (tomonafu), combining 伴 (tomo, "companion") with the verb-forming element なふ (nafu).

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, Japanese often expresses this meaning with 一緒に行く (issho ni iku), while 伴う (tomonau) sounds more formal and is common in written language.

Other meanings

  • entailverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word