劣(おと)る

おとる
verb (godan)
to be inferior, to fall behind
1. to be inferior to, to be worse than
To be of lower quality or ability than something else.
品質(ひんしつ)が劣(おと)る。
The quality is inferior.
彼(かれ)に劣(おと)らない。
I'm not inferior to him.
どちらも劣(おと)らず素晴(すば)らしい。
Both are equally wonderful.
Lit: wonderful without being inferior

劣(おと)る is an intransitive godan verb meaning to be inferior or fall short in comparison.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive)
  • No transitive pair

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 〜に劣(おと)る: to be inferior to ~
  • 〜に劣(おと)らず: not inferior to ~, equally
  • 勝(まさ)るとも劣(おと)らない: at least as good as (lit: even if surpassing, not inferior)
  • どちらも劣(おと)らず: both equally (good)

ASPECT (ている):
劣(おと)っている describes an ongoing state of being inferior.

OPPOSITE:

  • 優(すぐ)れる: to excel, be superior
  • 勝(まさ)る: to surpass, exceed

The negative form 劣(おと)らない is frequently used to express equality or comparable quality.

general
Added 2026.1.9 21:01 · Revised 2026.1.29 9:16
02000/02025_otoru