ひるむ
ひるむ
verb (godan, intransitive)
to cower; to flinch; to be daunted
1.
to cower; to flinch; to be daunted
To draw back or hesitate due to fear, intimidation, or lack of courage. Stronger than mere hesitation.
相手の威圧感にひるんだ。
I was daunted by my opponent's intimidating presence.
困難にひるむことなく挑戦し続けた。
I kept challenging myself without being daunted by difficulties.
失敗を恐れてひるんでいてはいけない。
You shouldn't cower out of fear of failure.
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive verb (自動詞). No pair verb.
KANJI:
Sometimes written as 怯む, though hiragana is more common.
USAGE:
ひるむ implies backing down or losing courage in the face of something intimidating. It suggests a stronger reaction than たじろぐ.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜にひるむ (to be daunted by ~)
- ひるむことなく (without flinching)
- ひるまない (doesn't cower - shows determination)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- たじろぐ - to flinch/falter (momentary wavering, less about fear)
- おじける - to be scared/chicken out (more cowardly)
- びびる - to be scared/intimidated (casual/colloquial)