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臣服 (しんぷく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
vassalage ; submission ; allegiance
Historical or literary term for a subordinate relationship, especially in feudal contexts. Often used with する to mean 'swear allegiance' or 'become a vassal'.
This region was once under the vassalage of a neighboring country.
Similar words 服ふく 従じゅう 服従 is a more general term for obedience or submission, while 臣服 specifically implies a feudal lord-vassal relationship.
忠ちゅう 誠せい 忠誠 means loyalty or fidelity, often in a broader sense, whereas 臣服 emphasizes the act of becoming a subordinate or the state of vassalage.
Etymology Compound of 臣 (しん, 'retainer, subject') and 服 (ふく, 'submit, obey'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys the idea of a subject's submission.