なぶる

な

ぶ

る

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

tease; make fun of; mock

usually written using kana alone

Covers light teasing as well as harsher ridicule; the degree depends on context. Often implies a playful or mean-spirited attitude toward a person.

弟おとうとはいつも私わたしをなぶって笑わらっている。
My younger brother is always teasing me and laughing.

彼かれは同どう僚りょうの失しっ敗ぱいをなぶるような言いい方かたをした。

He spoke in a way that mocked his colleague's mistake.

2

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

play with; fiddle with; tinker with

usually written using kana alone

Used for idly handling or toying with an object, not a person. Less common than the teasing sense.

彼かれはペンをなぶりながら考かんがえ込こんでいた。
He was deep in thought while fiddling with a pen.

Written forms

なぶるUsage57%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 嬲る and 嫐る are rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
嬲なぶるUsage43%
Rare kanji form; the character 嬲 is not in the Jōyō kanji list and is seldom used.

Kanji

嬲sport with, ridicule, tease

Similar words

からかう
からかう is more common for light teasing and is usually playful; なぶる can be harsher or more persistent.
いじる
いじる is the standard word for fiddling with or tinkering with an object; なぶる in this sense is less frequent and may sound old-fashioned.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. The kanji 嬲 and 嫐 are composed of 男 (man) and 女 (woman) in various arrangements, suggesting a historical association with teasing or trifling with someone, but the exact derivation is unclear.