Japanese word

慎む

Pronunciation

Romajitsutsushimu

Meaning

  • verbrefrain from

Example

健康のため、酒を慎みます。ken kō no ta me sake o tsutsushi mi ma su

For my health, I refrain from alcohol.

Illustration for 慎む (refrain from)

More examples

会議では、感情的な発言を慎みましょう。kai gi de wa kan jō teki na hatsu gen o tsutsushi mi ma shō

Let's refrain from making emotional remarks in the meeting.

Core concept

It marks deliberate self-restraint, either by avoiding an unsuitable act or by keeping one's words and behavior modest.

Common phrases

  • 口を慎むkuchi o tsutsushi mu

    watch one's words

  • 無駄遣いを慎むmu da zuka i o tsutsushi mu

    refrain from wasteful spending

  • 身を慎むmi o tsutsushi mu

    conduct oneself discreetly

Similar words

控えるhikaeru: To refrain from an act or limit its amount or frequency.
差し控えるsashihikaeru: To deliberately refrain from an act, statement, or request, often in a formal context.
遠慮するenryosuru: To refrain from doing or accepting something out of consideration for others.

Definition in Japanese

好ましくないことを控え、言動を控えめにする。kono ma shi ku na i ko to o hika e gen dō o hika e me ni su ru

Word origin

慎む (tsutsushimu) is a native Japanese verb whose verb-noun form 慎み (tsutsushimi) means "restraint" or "self-control."

Usage tips

  • 慎む (tsutsushimu) sounds more formal than 控える (hikaeru), so it commonly appears in careful speech and writing about restrained conduct.

Other meanings

  • be discreetverb

Related words

  • 慎みtsutsushimirestraintnoun
  • 慎ましいtsutsumashiimodesti-adjective

Word lists with this word