Japanese word

傾く

Pronunciation

Romajikatamuku

Meaning

  • verbtilt

Example

地震で本棚が傾きました。ji shin de hon dana ga katamu ki ma shi ta

The bookshelf tilted in the earthquake.

Illustration for 傾く (tilt)

More examples

長く使うと、ドアが少し傾きます。naga ku tsuka u to do a ga suko shi katamu ki ma su

The door may tilt slightly after prolonged use.

Core concept

Describes shifting away from a balanced center toward one side, physically or in one's thoughts and feelings.

Common phrases

  • 横に傾くyoko ni katamu ku

    tilt sideways

  • 賛成に傾くsan sei ni katamu ku

    lean toward approval

Similar words

傾斜するkeishasuru: To slope or be set at an angle rather than remain level.
傾ぐkashigu: To become or remain slanted to one side, often in a literary or formal expression.

Definition in Japanese

物や体が一方へ斜めになり、考えや気持ちが特定の方向に寄る。mono ya karada ga ip pō e nana me ni na ri kanga e ya ki mo chi ga toku tei no hō kō ni yo ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 傾く (katamuku) is related to 傾ける (katamukeru), which means "to tilt something"; the pair contrasts leaning with causing something to lean.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 太陽が傾く (taiyō ga katamuku) describes the sun moving lower toward the horizon, extending the physical sense beyond objects such as a bookshelf.

Other meanings

  • be inclined toward ___verb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word