Japanese word

営む

Pronunciation

Romajiitonamu

Meaning

  • verbrun

Example

父は町で小さな店を営んでいます。chichi wa machi de chii sa na mise o itona n de i ma su

My father runs a small shop in town.

Illustration for 営む (run)

More examples

地域の人々と協力して新しい事業を営んでいます。chi iki no hito bito to kyō ryoku shi te atara shi i ji gyō o itona n de i ma su

We run a new business in cooperation with local people.

Core concept

Describes keeping an organized activity, especially a business or livelihood, running over time.

Common phrases

  • 店を営むmise o itona mu

    run a shop

  • 事業を営むji gyō o itona mu

    run a business

  • 生活を営むsei katsu o itona mu

    lead a life

  • 農業を営むnō gyō o itona mu

    practice agriculture

Similar words

経営するkeieisuru: To keep a business or livelihood active through ongoing management.
運営するuneisuru: To carry out the practical management of an organization or activity.
営業するeigyōsuru: To operate a business by offering goods or services to customers.
切り盛りするkirimorisuru: To manage a business or household so that its daily work runs smoothly.

Definition in Japanese

仕事や商売などを継続して行い、運営する。shi goto ya shō bai na do o kei zoku shi te okona i un ei su ru

Word origin

営む (itonamu) is a native Japanese verb, and its stem forms the noun 営み (itonami, "undertaking") for an ongoing activity.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, this verb often sounds formal or literary, while everyday talk commonly uses plainer wording for running a shop.

Other meanings

  • conductverb
  • practiceverb

Related words

  • 営みitonamiactivitynoun

Word lists with this word