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気をのまれる (きをのまれる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
be overwhelmed ; be overawed ; lose one's nerve
Describes a situation where someone's spirit or confidence is crushed by a stronger presence, pressure, or atmosphere. Often used when someone feels intimidated and cannot act normally.
初はじ めて の 大だい 舞ぶ 台たい で 気き を のま れ ない よう に 、 深しん 呼こ 吸きゅう を し た 。
I took a deep breath so as not to be overawed on the big stage for the first time.
Written forms 気き をのまれる
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling; the most common written form.
気き を 呑の まれる
Uses the kanji 呑 for 'drink/swallow', which fits the metaphorical meaning but is less common than the kana のまれる.
気き を 飲の まれる
Uses the common kanji 飲 for 'drink'; this spelling is occasionally seen but is not standard for this idiom.
Similar words 圧あっ 倒とう される 圧倒される is a more general term for being overwhelmed by power, numbers, or emotion, while 気をのまれる specifically refers to losing one's mental composure or nerve due to intimidation.
たじたじになる たじたじになる describes being flustered or recoiling under pressure, often with a visible reaction; 気をのまれる focuses more on the internal feeling of being psychologically overwhelmed.
Etymology The expression combines 気 (spirit/mind) with のまれる, the passive form of 飲む/呑む (to drink/swallow), literally meaning 'one's spirit is swallowed up'. The metaphorical use of 'swallowing' for overwhelming or engulfing is common in Japanese.
