Japanese word

背く

Pronunciation

Romajisomuku

Meaning

  • verbgo against

Example

彼は自分の信念に背きます。kare wa ji bun no shin nen ni somu ki ma su

He goes against his own beliefs.

Illustration for 背く (go against)

More examples

彼女は家族の期待に背いて、海外で働く道を選びました。kano jo wa ka zoku no ki tai ni somu i te kai gai de hatara ku michi o era bi ma shi ta

Against her family's expectations, she chose to work abroad.

Core concept

Marks a deliberate move away from an expected path, whether that path comes from an authority, a rule, or one's own belief.

Common phrases

  • 期待に背くki tai ni somu ku

    defy expectations

  • 法に背くhō ni somu ku

    break the law

  • 忠告に背くchū koku ni somu ku

    ignore advice

  • 伝統に背くden tō ni somu ku

    go against tradition

  • 自分の良心に背くji bun no ryō shin ni somu ku

    go against one's conscience

Similar words

逆らうsakarau: To resist a person's wishes or an authority's command.
反するhansuru: To be contrary to a rule, principle, expectation, or belief.
反抗するhankōsuru: To actively oppose pressure, control, or an attempt to change one's position.
違反するihansuru: To fail to follow a rule, law, or agreed requirement.

Definition in Japanese

命令や規則、自分の信念などに反して行動すること。mei rei ya ki soku ji bun no shin nen na do ni han shi te kō dō su ru ko to

Word origin

背く (somuku) is an old native Japanese verb meaning to turn away or oppose; the kanji 背 (se, "back") represents the image of turning one's back rather than providing the word's pronunciation.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use go against with beliefs, principles, and expectations, so 背く (somuku) covers conflicts with inner values as well as direct disobedience.

Other meanings

  • disobeyverb
  • violateverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word