なびく

な

び

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

なびく · godan verb (-ku)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	なびく	なびかない
Polite	なびきます	なびきません
Past polite	なびきました	なびきませんでした
Past	なびいた	なびかなかった
Te-form	なびいて	なびかないで
Desire	なびきたい	なびきたくない
Potential	なびける	なびけない
Passive	なびかれる	なびかれない
Causative	なびかせる	なびかせない
Causative passive	なびかせられるalso なびかされる	なびかせられないalso なびかされない
Volitional	なびこう
Polite volitional	なびきましょう
Imperative	なびけ	なびくな
Conditional	なびけば	なびかなければ
Tara conditional	なびいたら	なびかなかったら

Meanings

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

bend; flutter; wave

usually written using kana alone

Describes something long and flexible bending or fluttering in the wind or current, such as grass, hair, or a flag.

風かぜで草くさがなびいている。
The grass is bending in the wind.
彼かの女じょの長ながい髪かみが風かぜになびいた。
Her long hair fluttered in the wind.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

yield to; be swayed by; bow to

usually written using kana alone

Metaphorical use: a person or group gives in to pressure, persuasion, or a stronger force. Often used with に.

彼かれは彼かの女じょの説せっ得とくになびいた。
He yielded to her persuasion.
世せ論ろんになびく政せい治じ家かは多おおい。
Many politicians are swayed by public opinion.

See all 35 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が風かぜになびくfor something (hair, flags, grass) to flutter or bend in the wind
彼かの女じょの髪かみが風かぜになびいている。
Her hair is fluttering in the wind.
〈人ひと〉が権けん力りょくになびくfor someone to yield to or bow down to power or authority
彼かれは権けん力りょくになびかない人ひとだ。
He is someone who doesn't bow to power.
〈物もの〉が水みずになびくfor something (seaweed, water plants) to sway with the current
水みず草くさが水みずの流ながれになびいている。
The water plants sway with the current.
〈人ひと〉が誘ゆう惑わくになびくto be swayed or tempted by an enticement
彼かの女じょは甘あまい誘ゆう惑わくになびいてしまった。
She gave in to the sweet temptation.

Kanji

靡flutter, wave, bow to

Related words

揺ゆれるN4sense 1
揺れる describes swaying or shaking in any direction, while 靡く specifically means bending or fluttering in one direction, usually from wind or current.
従したがうN3sense 2
従う means to actively follow or obey rules or orders, while 靡く implies passively yielding or being swayed by pressure or influence.
はためく sense 1
はためく emphasizes the flapping sound and motion of something like a flag in strong wind, while 靡く is broader and can describe gentle bending as well.
屈くっする sense 2
屈する means to give in or succumb, often after resistance, while 靡く suggests a softer, more gradual yielding to influence.
翻ひるがえる
なびく describes something long and flexible like hair or grass swaying steadily in the wind, while 翻る suggests a sharper, more visible flapping or flipping motion, as with a flag.

Opposites

抵てい抗こうN3sense 2
抵抗する means to resist or fight back, the opposite of 靡く's sense of yielding or bowing to pressure.

Written forms

なびくUsage87%
Usually written in kana; the kanji 靡く is rare and mainly literary.
靡なびくUsage13%
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese verb. The kanji 靡 is used for its meaning of 'bend' or 'flutter', but the word is not derived from it.