おもむろに

お

も

む

ろ

に

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

adverb

slowly; calmly; deliberately

usually written using kana alone

Original meaning: doing something in a slow, unhurried, and composed manner. Often implies a measured, gentle action.

彼かれはおもむろに立たち上あがり、窓まどを開あけた。
He slowly stood up and opened the window.
祖そ母ぼはおもむろに話はなし始はじめた。
My grandmother began to speak calmly and deliberately.

adverb

suddenly; abruptly

usually written using kana alone

Modern non-standard usage meaning 'suddenly', likely arising from confusion with similar-sounding words. Many native speakers consider this incorrect; the original meaning is 'slowly'.

おもむろに雨あめが降ふり出だした。（非ひ標ひょう準じゅん的てきな用よう法ほう）
Suddenly it started raining. (non-standard usage)

Usage patterns

おもむろに立たち上あがるto stand up slowly and deliberately
彼かれはおもむろに立たち上あがり、窓まどの外そとを見みた。
He slowly stood up and looked out the window.
おもむろに話はなし始はじめるto begin speaking in a calm, unhurried manner
彼かの女じょはおもむろに話はなし始はじめた。
She began speaking slowly and calmly.
おもむろに手てを伸のばすto slowly reach out one's hand
老ろう人じんはおもむろに手てを伸のばし、本ほんを取とった。
The old man slowly reached out his hand and took the book.

Kanji

徐gradually, slowly, deliberately

Related words

ゆっくりN5sense 2
ゆっくり is the common, everyday word for doing something slowly, while 徐に (おもむろに) is a more literary word that adds a nuance of calm deliberateness.
静しずかに sense 2
静かに emphasizes quietness or gentleness of an action, whereas 徐に (おもむろに) emphasizes the unhurried, measured pace of the action.

Opposites

急きゅうにN4sense 2
急に means 'suddenly, abruptly', the direct opposite of 徐に (おもむろに) in its original sense of moving slowly and calmly.

Don't confuse with

突とつ然ぜんN3sense 1
突然 is the standard word meaning 'suddenly'; some speakers mistakenly use 徐に (おもむろに) with this same meaning, though traditionally it means 'slowly'.
徐じょ々じょにN3
徐に shares a kanji with 徐々に but means 'calmly, deliberately' (as in a slow single action), not 'gradually over time'.

Written forms

おもむろにUsage94%
Kana spelling is standard; the kanji forms 徐に and 徐ろに are rare and may be considered non-standard.
徐おもむろにUsage5%
Rare kanji form; sometimes considered non-standard. The kana spelling is strongly preferred.
徐おもむろにUsage1%
Rare kanji form with okurigana; sometimes considered non-standard. The kana spelling is strongly preferred.

Etymology

Derived from the verb おもむる (to proceed slowly). The kanji 徐 carries the meaning 'slowly' or 'gradually'. The modern non-standard sense 'suddenly' is a semantic shift likely due to misinterpretation.