たかる

た

か

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

たかる · godan verb (-ru)

Meanings

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

gather; swarm; crowd around

usually written using kana alone

Describes insects, animals, or people gathering in large numbers, often with a nuance of being a nuisance or uninvited.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

sponge off; scrounge; bum; cadge

usually written using kana alone

To pester someone for money, food, or favors, often habitually and without shame. Implies taking advantage of someone's generosity.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

usually written using kana alone

To obtain money through intimidation or threats, often associated with yakuza or street thugs. Stronger and more criminal than sense 2.

〈人ひと〉にたかるto sponge/mooch off someone
彼かれはいつも友とも達だちにお金かねをたかる。
He's always sponging money off his friends.
〈物もの〉に虫むしがたかるfor insects to swarm on something
生なまごみに虫むしがたかっている。
Insects are swarming on the raw garbage.
〈人ひと〉から〈物もの〉をたかるto extort something from someone
彼かれはチンピラに金かねをたかられた。
He was shaken down for money by a thug.

集あつまるN4sense 1
集まる is the neutral, general verb for people or things gathering, while たかる implies an unwelcome or parasitic swarming.
せがむN1sense 2
せがむ means to pester or plead insistently, often used of children, while たかる describes habitual mooching or freeloading typically by adults.
ゆする sense 3
強請る specifically means to extort money through intimidation, matching the criminal sense of たかる but without its milder 'sponge off' meaning.
ねだるN1sense 2
ねだる means to wheedle or coax someone into giving something, a milder and often affectionate act compared to the shameless freeloading of たかる.

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揺ゆするN1
たかる means to sponge or mooch money off someone without real threats, whereas 揺する implies coercion through threat or intimidation.
群むらがるN2
たかる is a colloquial word for insects or people swarming greedily around something (like food or money), while 群がる is more neutral and can describe any large gathering.

たかるUsage94%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 集る is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
集たかるUsage6%
Kanji form is uncommon; learners should use the kana spelling.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the idea of 'swarming' or 'clinging', but the exact derivation is unclear.