Japanese word

偲ぶ

Pronunciation

Romajishinobu

Meaning

  • verbbe nostalgic for

Example

子どもの頃を偲びます。ko do mo no koro o shino bi ma su

I am nostalgic for my childhood.

Illustration for 偲ぶ (be nostalgic for)

More examples

遠く離れて暮らすと、故郷の祭りを偲びます。tō ku hana re te ku ra su to ko kyō no matsu ri o shino bi ma su

While living far from my hometown, I feel nostalgic for its festivals.

Core concept

Centers on bringing a valued person, place, or time back to mind with warm attachment.

Common phrases

  • 昔を偲ぶmukashi o shino bu

    be nostalgic for the past

  • 故郷を偲ぶko kyō o shino bu

    be nostalgic for one's hometown

  • 故人を偲ぶko jin o shino bu

    remember the deceased

Similar words

懐かしむnatsukashimu: To feel warm affection when remembering a person, place, or time from the past.
思い出すomoidasu: To bring a person, place, event, or fact back to mind without requiring strong emotion.
恋しがるkoishigaru: To long for a distant person or place because of deep affection.

Definition in Japanese

過去の人や出来事などを、懐かしさや愛着を込めて思い出す。ka ko no hito ya de ki goto na do o natsu ka shi sa ya ai chaku o ko me te omo i da su

Word origin

偲ぶ (shinobu) is a native Japanese verb inherited from the classical form しのぶ (shinobu), with 偲ぶ used as a semantic kanji spelling for fond remembrance.

Usage tips

  • 偲ぶ (shinobu) and 忍ぶ (shinobu) share a reading, but 偲ぶ expresses fond remembrance, whereas 忍ぶ commonly means enduring hardship or concealing oneself.

Other meanings

  • reminisceverb
  • rememberverb

Word lists with this word