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諾う (うべなう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
agree ; assent ; consent ; accept
dated term
Dated term for agreeing to a proposal, request, or condition. In modern Japanese, 承諾する or 同意する are far more common. Still encountered in older literature or formal historical contexts.
The expression 諾う often appears in old documents.
Written forms 諾うべな う Usage 80%
Kanji spelling using 諾 (consent). Rare and dated; modern Japanese normally uses 承諾する or 同意する.
うべなう Usage 20%
Kana spelling. Useful for learners, as the kanji forms are rare and may not be recognized.
肯うべな う
Alternate kanji spelling using 肯 (agree). Also rare and dated.
宜うべな う
Alternate kanji spelling using 宜 (good/proper). Rare and dated.
Kanji 諾 consent, assent, agreement 肯 agreement, consent, comply with Similar words 承しょう 諾だく する Standard modern term for 'consent' or 'agree'. 諾う is its dated, literary equivalent.
同どう 意い する Common modern word for 'agree'. 諾う carries a more formal, consent-oriented nuance.
Etymology The derivation is uncertain. The kanji 諾, 肯, and 宜 all relate to agreement or propriety, but the reading うべなう is native Japanese and its origin is unclear.
