1.
to hang one's head
to hang one's head in disappointment, shame, or dejection
彼は項垂れていた。
He was hanging his head.
失敗を知って項垂れた。
Upon learning of the failure, they hung their head.
叱られた子どもが項垂れて立っていた。
The scolded child stood with their head hung low.
項垂れる is an intransitive ichidan verb describing the physical action of hanging one's head, typically due to negative emotions.
TRANSITIVITY: Intransitive (自動詞).
ETYMOLOGY:
- 項 means "nape of the neck"
- The verb describes the neck drooping, causing the head to hang down
USAGE:
- Expresses dejection, shame, disappointment, or defeat
- Often used to describe someone's posture after receiving bad news or being reprimanded
- The kanji 項垂れる is commonly written, but hiragana うなだれる is also acceptable
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- がっくり項垂れる (to hang one's head in despair)
- 項垂れて帰る (to return with one's head hung low)
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 頭を下げる: To bow one's head (more neutral, can also mean to apologize)
- 俯く: To look down, hang one's head (more general)
- 項垂れる: Specifically conveys emotional dejection
REGISTER: Neutral to slightly literary.