Japanese word

譲る

Pronunciation

Romajiyuzuru

Meaning

  • verbgive up

Example

席を譲ります。seki o yuzu ri ma su

I will give up my seat.

Illustration for 譲る (give up)

More examples

弟に順番を譲ります。otōto ni jun ban o yuzu ri ma su

I give up my turn to my little brother.

後から来た人に順番を譲りました。ato ka ra ki ta hito ni jun ban o yuzu ri ma shi ta

I let the person behind me go first.

Core concept

Centers on yielding something one has, such as a place, right, object, or turn, to another person.

Common phrases

  • 席を譲るseki o yuzu ru

    give up one's seat

  • 道を譲るmichi o yuzu ru

    give way

  • 先を譲るsaki o yuzu ru

    let someone go ahead

Similar words

渡すwatasu: To pass something into another person's hands.
手放すtebanasu: To release something from one's possession or control.

Definition in Japanese

自分の持つ物や権利、場所などを相手に渡し、自分は退くこと。ji bun no mo tsu mono ya ken ri ba sho na do o ai te ni wata shi ji bun wa shirizo ku ko to

Word origin

譲る (yuzuru) is a native Japanese verb rather than a Sino-Japanese compound; the older form ゆづる (yuzuru) already expressed passing something to another person, which underlies its modern uses.

Usage tips

  • In bargaining, 価格を譲る (kakaku o yuzuru) means lowering one's demanded price, so 譲る (yuzuru) can describe giving up part of a claim without handing over an object.

Other meanings

  • give wayverb
  • hand oververb

Opposites

Related words

  • 譲り方yuzurikataway of yieldingnoun
  • 譲り合いyuzuriaimutual yieldingnoun

Word lists with this word