背そむく

そ

む

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

go against; disobey; betray; run counter to

Used for violating rules, expectations, trust, or one's own conscience. Often implies a deliberate turning away from something one should follow.

彼かれは親おやの期き待たいに背そむいて、芸げい術じゅつの道みちに進すすんだ。
He went against his parents' expectations and pursued a career in art.

法ほう律りつに背そむく行こう為いは許ゆるされない。

Acts that go against the law are not permitted.

信しん頼らいに背そむくようなことはしたくない。

I don't want to do anything that would betray trust.

Written forms

背そむくUsage62%
Standard kanji spelling for turning one's back on, disobeying, or going against expectations.
そむくUsage26%
叛そむくUsage12%
Rare kanji variant emphasizing rebellion or betrayal; not commonly used in modern writing.

Kanji

背stature, height, back
叛disobey, defy, go back on

Similar words

逆さからう
逆らう is more about resisting or opposing a person, force, or flow directly, while 背く emphasizes turning away from an obligation, expectation, or rule.
反はんする
反する is often used for being contrary to a principle, rule, or prediction, and can be more formal or abstract than 背く.

Etymology

Derived from 背 (back) + 向く (to face), literally 'to turn one's back toward'. The historical derivation is straightforward; the kanji 背 is used for its meaning of 'back'.