Japanese Conversation · Level 132
60 words
Japanese word
傍ら
Pronunciation
Romajikatawara
Meaning
- nounbeside
Example
母の傍らに座ります。haha no katawa ra ni suwa ri ma su
I sit beside my mother.
More examples
看護師は患者の傍らで夜を過ごします。kan go shi wa kan ja no katawa ra de yoru o su go shi ma su
The nurse spends the night beside the patient.
Core concept
傍ら (katawara) describes a place alongside someone or something, including the edge or side of an object.
Common phrases
傍らに座るkatawa ra ni suwa ru
sit beside ___
傍らに立つkatawa ra ni ta tsu
stand beside ___
Similar words
そばsoba: A place close beside a person or thing, often used in everyday speech.
横yoko: The side of a person or thing, especially the space directly next to it.
脇waki: The side area next to a person or thing, often referring to a narrow space.
Definition in Japanese
人や物の横またはそのすぐそばの場所。hito ya mono no yoko ma ta wa so no su gu so ba no ba sho
Word origin
The Japanese noun 傍ら (katawara) comes from the older form かたはら (katahara), with かた (kata, "side") as its identifiable first element and no certain explanation for the second element.
Usage tips
- Although 傍ら (katawara) means beside, its register is relatively formal, while そば (soba) is usually more natural in casual conversation.
Other meanings
- edgenoun