付和雷同(ふわらいどう)

ふわらいどう
noun; suru verb
following blindly; going along with the crowd
1. following blindly; mindless conformity
The act of going along with others' opinions without thinking for oneself. Implies a lack of independent judgment.
付和雷同(ふわらいどう)せずに自分(じぶん)の意見(いけん)を持(も)つべきだ。
You should have your own opinion instead of blindly following others.
会議(かいぎ)では付和雷同(ふわらいどう)する人(ひと)が多(おお)かった。
There were many people at the meeting who just went along with the crowd.
付和雷同(ふわらいどう)的(てき)な態度(たいど)は危険(きけん)だ。
An attitude of blind conformity is dangerous.

YOJIJUKUGO (四字熟語(よじじゅくご)): This is a four-character compound idiom.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

  • 付(ふ) - to attach, follow
  • 和(わ) - harmony, to go along with
  • 雷(らい) - thunder
  • 同(どう) - same, together

ETYMOLOGY: The phrase suggests responding to thunder (雷(らい)) by simply echoing (同(どう)) others' reactions rather than thinking independently.

USAGE PATTERNS:

  • 付和雷同(ふわらいどう)する (to follow blindly)
  • 付和雷同(ふわらいどう)的(てき) (conformist, herd-like)
  • 付和雷同(ふわらいどう)せず (without following blindly)

NUANCE: This term is always negative, implying criticism of those who lack independent thinking or moral courage.

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 右(みぎ)に倣(なら)え (follow the leader)
  • 長(なが)いものには巻(ま)かれろ (don't fight the powerful - proverb)
  • 同調(どうちょう)する (to conform, to go along)

Related Words

Related: 同調(どうちょう) (conformity)
general
Added 2026.1.19 8:54 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07121_fuwaraidou