かしこまる

か

し

こ

ま

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Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

かしこまる · godan verb (-ru)

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	かしこまる	かしこまらない
Polite	かしこまります	かしこまりません
Past polite	かしこまりました	かしこまりませんでした
Past	かしこまった	かしこまらなかった
Te-form	かしこまって	かしこまらないで
Desire	かしこまりたい	かしこまりたくない
Potential	かしこまれる	かしこまれない
Passive	かしこまられる	かしこまられない
Causative	かしこまらせる	かしこまらせない
Causative passive	かしこまらせられるalso かしこまらされる	かしこまらせられないalso かしこまらされない
Volitional	かしこまろう
Polite volitional	かしこまりましょう
Imperative	かしこまれ	かしこまるな
Conditional	かしこまれば	かしこまらなければ
Tara conditional	かしこまったら	かしこまらなかったら

Meanings

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

sit respectfully; be stiffly polite; humble oneself

usually written using kana alone

Describes a formal, stiff posture or attitude, often when showing deference or receiving a scolding. Can also mean to obey respectfully or to humble oneself in a very polite context.

部ぶ長ちょうの前まえでかしこまって話はなしを聞きいた。
I sat up straight and listened to the department head respectfully.
そんなにかしこまらないで、楽らくにしてください。
Don't be so stiff and formal; please make yourself comfortable.

See all 21 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の前まえでかしこまるto sit or behave stiffly and respectfully in front of someone
彼かれは上じょう司しの前まえでかしこまっていた。
He sat stiffly and respectfully in front of his boss.
かしこまって〈動どう詞し〉to do something in a formal, stiffly polite manner
新しん入にゅう社しゃ員いんはかしこまって挨あい拶さつをした。
The new employee greeted everyone in a stiffly polite manner.

Expressions

かしこまりましたcertainly; very well; understood

Kanji

畏fear, majestic, graciously

Related words

恐きょう縮しゅくN2
恐縮する expresses feeling apologetically grateful or embarrassed by someone's kindness, while 畏まる describes physically or verbally taking a stiffly formal, respectful posture.
承しょう知ちN3
承知する is the standard humble way to say 'I understand and will comply' in business Japanese, while 畏まる (as in かしこまりました) is an even more old-fashioned, deferential version of the same acknowledgment.
慎つつしむN1
謹む means to be discreet, refrain, or show respect through careful behavior, often used in written apologies, while 畏まる focuses more on stiff, respectful posture or attitude.
改あらたまるN1
畏まる emphasizes a deferential, respectful attitude toward someone of higher status, while 改まる simply describes speech or manner becoming stiffly formal in a given situation.

Opposites

くつろぐN2
くつろぐ means to relax and unwind, the opposite of the stiff, formal posture implied by 畏まる.

Don't confuse with

恐おそれるN3
畏れる shares the kanji 畏 with 畏まる but means to feel awe or fear, not to adopt a respectful, formal posture.

Written forms

かしこまるUsage89%
Usually written in kana; the kanji spelling 畏まる is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
畏かしこまるUsage11%
Kanji form is uncommon; learners should use the kana spelling.

Etymology

Derived from 畏 (kashiko, 'awe, reverence') + まる (-maru, verb-forming suffix). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it has long been used to express respectful, formal behavior.