畏い縮しゅく

い

しゅ

く

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

cowering; recoiling; flinching

Describes a physical or emotional shrinking back in fear, awe, or embarrassment. Often used in the expression 畏縮する (to cower, to shrink back).

彼かれは上じょう司しの怒ど鳴なり声ごえに畏い縮しゅくした。
He cowered at his boss's yelling.
大

おお

物もの

俳はい

優ゆう

を

前まえ

に

し

て

、

新しん

人じん

は

畏い

縮しゅく

し

て

しまっ

た

。

In front of the famous actor, the newcomer shrank back in awe.

Kanji

畏fear, majestic, graciously
縮shrink, contract, shrivel

Similar words

萎い縮しゅく
萎縮 means 'atrophy' or 'withering' (physical or psychological shrinking), while 畏縮 specifically involves fear or awe.
怖おじ気けづく
怖気づく is more colloquial and means 'to get scared' or 'lose one's nerve', whereas 畏縮 is more formal and often implies a respectful or intimidated shrinking.

Etymology

Compound of 畏 (い, 'fear, awe') and 縮 (しゅく, 'shrink'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally yields the meaning 'shrink in fear'.