受け
Meanings
popularity; favorable reception; reputation
Refers to how well a person, joke, product, idea, etc. is received by a group. As a suffix in forms such as 女性受け or 子ども受け, it means appeal to that group.
This project is well received by younger people.
It is a design aimed at appealing to women.
defense; defensive play
Used especially in games, sports, and combative contexts for defending, parrying, or playing defensively, often contrasted with 攻め.
This shogi player is strong on defense.
Only when written 請け / 承け
Limited noun use for agreeing to accept or undertake something. Modern Japanese more often uses words such as 承諾, 引き受け, or 契約 depending on the context.
In contract contexts, 請け may be used for an agreement to undertake a request.
receiver of a technique
Martial-arts term for the person who receives a throw, lock, strike, or other technique, as opposed to the person applying it.
In aikido practice, the uke receives the technique and the tori applies it.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉受けするto appeal to / be popular with (a demographic)
That product is popular with young people.
- 受けを狙うto try to get a laugh / be well received
He always makes jokes trying to get a laugh.
- 受けに回るto go on the defensive; switch to defense
In the second half of the match, we went on the defensive.
- 受けを取るto take the role of the one receiving a throw or technique (martial arts)
I took the ukemi role during judo practice.