(もた)れる

もたれる
verb (ichidan)
to lean on; to feel heavy (stomach)
1. to lean on; to rest against
To support one's body by leaning against something or someone.
椅子(いす)()もたれに(もた)れる。
To lean against the back of a chair.
(かれ)(かべ)(もた)れて()っていた。
He was standing leaning against the wall.
2. to feel heavy; to sit heavily (stomach)
To have a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in the stomach after eating.
(あぶら)っこいものを()べて()(もた)れている。
My stomach feels heavy from eating greasy food.

(もた)れる has two distinct meanings: the physical action of leaning and the sensation of stomach heaviness.

CONJUGATION (ichidan verb):

  • (もた)れる (dictionary form)
  • (もた)れない (negative)
  • (もた)れた (past)
  • (もた)れて (te-form)

KANJI NOTE:
The kanji (もた) is rarely used in modern writing; this word is often written in hiragana as もたれる.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • ()にもたれる: to sit heavily on the stomach
  • ()もたれ: backrest (of a chair)