Japanese word

賑わう

Pronunciation

Romajinigiwau

Meaning

  • verbbustling

Example

週末は市場が賑わいます。shū matsu wa shi jō ga nigi wa i ma su

The market is bustling on weekends.

Illustration for 賑わう (bustling)

More examples

新しい店が増えて、駅前が賑わいました。atara shi i mise ga fu e te eki mae ga nigi wa i ma shi ta

As new shops opened, the area in front of the station became lively.

Core concept

Describes a place becoming lively because many people gather and activity fills it.

Common phrases

  • 人で賑わうhito de nigi wa u

    bustle with people

  • 観光客で賑わうkan kō kyaku de nigi wa u

    bustle with tourists

  • 祭りで賑わうmatsu ri de nigi wa u

    bustle during a festival

Similar words

活気づくkakkizuku: A place or group becomes lively and active.
盛り上がるmoriagaru: An event or atmosphere becomes more exciting and lively.
混み合うkomiau: A place becomes crowded with many people or things.
繁盛するhanjōsuru: A business attracts many customers and operates successfully.

Definition in Japanese

人が多く集まり、活気に満ちた状態になる。hito ga ō ku atsu ma ri kak ki ni mi chi ta jō tai ni na ru

Word origin

賑わう (nigiwau) is a native verb, not a compound formed from separately borrowed Chinese words; its recorded older form is 賑はふ (nigiwafu), while its deeper origin remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 賑わう (nigiwau) usually suggests energetic activity as well as many people, so it fits a lively market better than a merely overcrowded room.

Other meanings

  • crowded with peopleverb

Opposites

  • 寂れるsabirerubecome desertedverb

Related words

  • 賑わいnigiwailivelinessnoun

Word lists with this word