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受身

うけみ

the passive; passive voice; being on the receiving end; (judo) a breakfall

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 英語の受身の作り方を習った。

    えいごのうけみのつくりかたをならった。

    We learned how to form the passive in English.

  2. 彼はいつも受身で、自分から動こうとしない。

    かれはいつもうけみで、じぶんからうごこうとしない。

    He is always passive and never acts on his own initiative.

  3. 柔道ではまず受身を覚える。

    じゅうどうではまずうけみをおぼえる。

    In judo you learn how to fall safely first of all.

  4. 受身の姿勢では交渉に勝てない。

    うけみのしせいではこうしょうにかてない。

    You can't win a negotiation from a passive stance.

Common patterns

受身になる
to become passive; to be put on the defensive
受身の姿勢
a passive attitude
受身を取る
to break one's fall (judo)

Memory tip

The same word lives in three worlds: grammar (passive voice), judo (the breakfall) and character (reactive rather than driving). It is usually written 受け身 outside grammar books; the opposite of the character sense is 積極的.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

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What does 受身 mean?