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侘びる (わびる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
worry ; grieve ; pine for
Describes a state of emotional distress, longing, or sorrow. Often used in literary or somewhat formal contexts. The verb is intransitive and typically describes the subject's inner state.
失しつ
恋れん
の
痛いた
み
に
侘わ
びる
日ひ
々び
を
送おく
っ
た
。
I spent my days grieving over the pain of a broken heart.
Written forms 侘わ びる
Standard kanji spelling for this verb.
佗わ びる
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji variant; irregular kanji usage.
Similar words 悲かな しむ 悲しむ is a more common and direct word for 'to feel sad' or 'to grieve', while 侘びる carries a nuance of quiet, lingering sorrow or pining, often with a literary tone.
思おも い 悩なや む 思い悩む means 'to worry' or 'to agonize over' something, focusing on mental distress, whereas 侘びる emphasizes a more passive, emotional state of grief or longing.
Etymology The verb 侘びる is related to the noun 侘び (wabi), which refers to a refined aesthetic of quiet simplicity and subdued beauty. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the verb form likely developed from the same root, originally expressing a sense of loneliness or desolation.
