ならう

な

ら

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

imitate; follow; copy; emulate

usually written using kana alone

Used for following someone's example, method, or style. Often implies learning by imitation. Common in the pattern 〜に倣う.

先せん輩ぱいに倣ならって、毎まい朝あさジョギングを始はじめた。
Following my senior's example, I started jogging every morning.

この書しょ類るいは前ぜん例れいに倣ならって作さく成せいしてください。

Please prepare this document following the precedent.

Written forms

ならうUsage68%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 倣う is also common but kana is preferred in modern usage.
倣ならうUsage32%
Standard kanji form; used in formal or literary contexts.
傚ならうUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
慣ならう
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

倣emulate, imitate
傚imitate, follow, emulate
慣accustomed, get used to, become experienced

Similar words

真似まねる
真似る focuses on copying actions or appearances, often superficially. 倣う implies following a model or precedent more respectfully or systematically.
習ならう
習う means to learn or take lessons in a skill from a teacher. 倣う means to imitate or follow an example, not necessarily through formal instruction.

Etymology

The kanji 倣 is a phono-semantic compound with 人 (person) and 放 (release, let go), suggesting the idea of following after someone. The reading ならう is native Japanese. The historical derivation is uncertain.