おもむろに

お

も

む

ろ

に

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

adverb

slowly; calmly; deliberately

usually written using kana alone

Original meaning: doing something in a slow, unhurried, and composed manner. Often implies a measured, gentle action.

彼かれはおもむろに立たち上あがり、窓まどを開あけた。
He slowly stood up and opened the window.

祖そ母ぼはおもむろに話はなし始はじめた。

My grandmother began to speak calmly and deliberately.

2

adverb

suddenly; abruptly

usually written using kana alone

Modern non-standard usage meaning 'suddenly', likely arising from confusion with similar-sounding words. Many native speakers consider this incorrect; the original meaning is 'slowly'.

おもむろに雨あめが降ふり出だした。（非ひ標ひょう準じゅん的てきな用よう法ほう）
Suddenly it started raining. (non-standard usage)

Written forms

おもむろにUsage94%
Kana spelling is standard; the kanji forms 徐に and 徐ろに are rare and may be considered non-standard.
徐おもむろにUsage5%
Rare kanji form; sometimes considered non-standard. The kana spelling is strongly preferred.
徐おもむろにUsage1%
Rare kanji form with okurigana; sometimes considered non-standard. The kana spelling is strongly preferred.

Kanji

徐gradually, slowly, deliberately

Similar words

突とつ然ぜん
突然 means 'suddenly' and is the standard word for abrupt events. おもむろに in its original sense means 'slowly', not 'suddenly'.
ゆっくり
ゆっくり also means 'slowly', but is more common and casual. おもむろに adds a nuance of deliberate, composed action.

Etymology

Derived from the verb おもむる (to proceed slowly). The kanji 徐 carries the meaning 'slowly' or 'gradually'. The modern non-standard sense 'suddenly' is a semantic shift likely due to misinterpretation.