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Word 1280 of 4449

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背く

そむく

to go against, to disobey

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 命令に背いた。

    めいれいにそむいた。

    He disobeyed the order.

  2. 親の期待に背きたくない。

    おやのきたいにそむきたくない。

    I don't want to let my parents' hopes down.

  3. 彼は約束に背いて、一人で出発してしまった。

    かれはやくそくにそむいて、ひとりでしゅっぱつしてしまった。

    Breaking his promise, he set off alone.

Common patterns

命令に背く
to disobey an order
期待に背く
to betray someone's hopes
教えに背く
to go against a teaching

Memory tip

背 is the back, and the verb is literally turning your back on someone — so it always implies a person or a trust was let down. 規則に反する is a dry technical breach; 期待に背く hurts.

Kanji in this word

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What does 背く mean?