けなす

け

な

す

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

けなす · godan verb (-su)

Meanings

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Used for criticizing or belittling someone or something, often in a harsh or unfair way.

〈人ひと〉の〈物もの〉をけなすto speak ill of someone's (work, cooking, etc.)
彼かれは妻つまの料りょう理りをけなした。
He criticized his wife's cooking.
面めんと向むかって〈人ひと〉をけなすto disparage someone right to their face
彼かれは面めんと向むかって私わたしをけなした。
He disparaged me right to my face.

そしる
謗る is a more literary or formal word for speaking ill of someone, while 貶す is the common, everyday verb for the same act.
酷こく評ひょう
けなす is the plain verb for putting something down or disparaging it, while 酷評 is the noun/suru-verb for a formal, severe critical assessment.

褒ほめるN4
褒める means to praise or compliment someone, the direct opposite of 貶す, which means to speak ill of or belittle them.
称たたえる
けなす means to speak ill of or disparage someone, the opposite of 称える, which means to praise or extol them.
おだてるN1
けなす means to disparage or put someone down, the opposite of 煽てる, which lifts someone up with flattery.

貶おとしめる
貶める shares the kanji 貶 with 貶す but means to lower someone's status or reputation, whereas 貶す simply means to criticize or speak badly of something verbally.

けなすUsage83%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 貶す is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
貶けなすUsage17%
Kanji form is uncommon; learners should use the kana spelling.

Derivation uncertain; possibly related to 蹴る (keru, 'to kick') with a negative nuance, but this is speculative.