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頭を縦に振る (あたまをたてにふる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

頭かしらを縦たてに振ふる

also: かしらをたてにふる

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

nod in agreement; say yes by nodding

Literally 'shake one's head vertically'; used when someone nods to show agreement or acceptance.

彼かれは黙だまって頭あたまを縦たてに振ふった。
He silently nodded in agreement.
上じょう司しの提てい案あんに、全ぜん員いんが頭あたまを縦たてに振

ふ

っ

た

。

Everyone nodded in agreement to the boss's proposal.

Written forms

頭を縦に振る
- あたまをたてにふる
  irregular kana usage
  Standard kanji form; the reading あたま is more common than かしら for this expression.
- かしらをたてにふる
  Rare reading; かしら is a less common reading for 頭 in this context.
かしらをたてにふる

Kanji

頭head, counter for large animals
縦vertical, length, height
振shake, wave, wag

Similar words

うなずく
うなずく is the standard single-word verb for 'nod', while 頭を縦に振る is a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the vertical motion.

Etymology

Phrase composed of 頭 (head), を (object marker), 縦に (vertically), and 振る (shake). The expression is transparent and describes the physical action of nodding.