忌む
い
む
忌む · godan verb (-mu)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 忌む | 忌まない |
| Polite | 忌みます | 忌みません |
| Past polite | 忌みました | 忌みませんでした |
| Past | 忌んだ | 忌まなかった |
| Te-form | 忌んで | 忌まないで |
| Desire | 忌みたい | 忌みたくない |
| Potential | 忌める | 忌めない |
| Passive | 忌まれる | 忌まれない |
| Causative | 忌ませる | 忌ませない |
| Causative passive | 忌ませられるalso 忌まされる | 忌ませられないalso 忌まされない |
| Volitional | 忌もう | |
| Polite volitional | 忌みましょう | |
| Imperative | 忌め | 忌むな |
| Conditional | 忌めば | 忌まなければ |
| Tara conditional | 忌んだら | 忌まなかったら |
Meanings
1
godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb
Used for deliberately staying away from something considered taboo, unlucky, or undesirable. Often appears in set phrases like 忌むべき (abominable).
Some cultures avoid unlucky words.
He shuns conflict and always speaks gently.
2
godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb
detest; abhor
Only when written 忌む / 諱む
Stronger emotional aversion than sense 1; implies loathing or deep dislike. Restricted to kanji 忌む and 諱む.
He has a personality that detests injustice.
Usage patterns
- 〈数〉を忌むto avoid a number as unlucky or taboo
Japanese people sometimes avoid the number four as unlucky.
- 〈事〉を忌むto shun or avoid a custom, act, or occasion as taboo
In this region, speaking the name of the dead is considered taboo.
- 〈人〉を忌むto detest or loathe a person
The villagers detested the old woman.
Expressions
- 忌むべきabominable; detestable