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Word 2050 of 4449

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憚る

はばかる

to hesitate, to be afraid of

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 人目を憚る。

    ひとめをはばかる。

    I shrink from being seen.

  2. 世間を憚って引っ越した。

    せけんをはばかってひっこした。

    Wary of what people would say, they moved away.

  3. 言うのも憚られるような話だ。

    いうのもはばかられるようなはなしだ。

    It is the sort of thing one hesitates even to mention.

Common patterns

人目を憚る
to avoid people's eyes
世間を憚る
to be wary of public opinion
憚りながら
if I may be so bold

Memory tip

It means holding back because of what others will think, above all in 人目を憚る. The passive 〜するのが憚られる is common: 'it feels too awkward to do'. The proverb 憎まれっ子世に憚る uses an older sense, 'to thrive'.

Kanji in this word

  • 憚Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does 憚る mean?