敬(うやま)う

うやまう
godan verb
to respect; to honor; to revere
1. to respect; to honor
To hold someone in high esteem and show deference.
年上(としうえ)の人(ひと)を敬(うやま)う。
To respect one's elders.
先生(せんせい)を敬(うやま)う気持(きも)ちを忘(わす)れないでください。
Please don't forget your feelings of respect for your teacher.
相手(あいて)を敬(うやま)う態度(たいど)が大切(たいせつ)だ。
An attitude of respecting others is important.
2. to revere; to venerate
To regard with deep respect, often with religious or spiritual connotation.
彼(かれ)は神(かみ)を敬(うやま)い、毎日(まいにち)祈(いの)っている。
He reveres God and prays every day.
地元(じもと)の人々(ひとびと)は山(やま)を敬(うやま)っている。
The local people revere the mountain.
祖先(そせん)を敬(うやま)い、毎年(まいとし)墓参(はかまい)りをする。
We venerate our ancestors and visit their graves every year.

敬(うやま)う is transitive (他動詞(たどうし)). It takes を for the person being respected.

ASPECT ({ている}):
敬(うやま)っている indicates an ongoing state of respecting someone.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 年上(としうえ)を敬(うやま)う (to respect elders)
  • 先生(せんせい)を敬(うやま)う (to respect one's teacher)
  • 神(かみ)を敬(うやま)う (to revere God)

PARTICLE PATTERNS:

  • ～を敬(うやま)う: The person being respected

RELATED WORDS:

  • 尊敬(そんけい)する: To respect (more common in everyday speech)
  • 敬意(けいい): Respect (noun)
  • 敬語(けいご): Honorific language

Register: Somewhat formal/literary. 尊敬(そんけい)する is more commonly used in everyday conversation. 敬(うやま)う has a more traditional, reverent nuance.

Related Words

Synonym: 尊敬(そんけい) (respect (する verb))
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.19 23:52
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