咎とがめる

ichidan verb, transitive verb

blame; reproach; find fault with

Used when criticizing or taking someone to task for a fault, mistake, or questionable action. It is more serious and somewhat more written than casual 責める.

• 小ちいさなミスをそんなに咎とがめないでください。

  Please do not blame me so much for a small mistake.

• 誰だれも彼かれの判はん断だんを咎とがめなかった。

  No one criticized his judgment.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

question; challenge; call to account

Used when someone in authority stops or questions a person whose behavior seems suspicious or improper. Common subjects include 警官, 警備員, or a superior.

• 警けい備び員いんが入いり口ぐちで不ふ審しんな男おとこを咎とがめた。

  The security guard challenged a suspicious man at the entrance.

• 夜よ中なかに歩あるいていたら警けい官かんに咎とがめられた。

  When I was walking late at night, I was questioned by a police officer.

ichidan verb, transitive verb

aggravate an injury; make a wound inflamed

Limited and old-fashioned or uncommon medical-like use for worsening a wound or sore, often by touching, scratching, or irritating it. Modern Japanese often uses 悪化させる instead.

• かさぶたを掻かいて傷きずを咎とがめてしまった。

  I scratched the scab and ended up aggravating the wound.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

prick one's conscience; feel guilty

Intransitive use, especially in the fixed expression 気が咎める, meaning that one's conscience bothers one.

See also: 気がとがめる

• 友ゆう人じんに本ほん当とうのことを言いわず、少すこし気きが咎とがめた。

  I felt a little guilty for not telling my friend the truth.