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Kotomora

臥

bend down, bow, lie prostrate

StatusJinmeiyōStrokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ガ

Kun'yomi

  • ふせ.る
  • ふ.せる
  • ふ.す

Meaning

臥 centers on lowering the body into a horizontal or submissive position: bending down, bowing, or lying prostrate.

Most common words using 臥

20 of 33
  • 臥せるふせる

    to lie down (and sleep); to go to bed (with an illness)

  • 座臥ざが

    sitting and lying down

  • 臥薪嘗胆がしんしょうたん

    going through thick and thin to attain one's objective; enduring unspeakable hardships for the sake of vengeance

  • 草臥れるくたびれる
    N3

    to get tired; to become exhausted; to grow weary

  • 仰臥ぎょうが

    lying on one's back; lying face upward; lying supine

  • 伏臥ふくが

    lying face down; lying on one's face; lying prostrate

  • 偃臥えんが

    lying face down

  • 側臥そくが

    lying down on one's side

  • 分娩臥床ぶんべんがしょう

    lying-in bed

  • 安臥あんが

    quiet rest

  • 帰臥きが

    quitting one's job as a government official to return to live quietly in one's own native region

  • 常住坐臥じょうじゅうざが

    at all times; day in, day out; constantly; always

  • 平臥へいが

    lying down

  • 横臥おうが

    lying on one's side

  • 添い臥しそいぶし

    sleeping together

  • 病臥びょうが

    being ill in bed

  • 臥し転ぶふしまろぶ

    to fall and roll over; wriggle about

  • 臥すがす

    to lie down (in bed); to take to one's bed

  • 臥すふす

    to lie down (in bed); to retire (to bed); to become bedridden (with an illness)

  • 臥するがする

    to lie down (in bed); to take to one's bed

Explore all words using 臥 →

Study

Etymology

臥 combines 臣 (a pictograph of a bent or lowered person) with 人 (person), reinforcing the idea of a person bending down or lying prostrate.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 臣 looks like a person bending over, and the right side 人 is another person. Together they show someone bowing or lying down.

Reading mnemonic

For ガ, imagine a person bowing so low they look like a gargoyle crouching on a ledge: gargoyle -> ガ, and the bent posture matches 臥.