賄う
まかなう
verb (godan)
to provide meals; to cover expenses; to manage
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 賄う | 賄わない |
| Present polite | 賄います | 賄いません |
| Past | 賄った | 賄わなかった |
| Past polite | 賄いました | 賄いませんでした |
| て form | 賄って | 賄わなくて |
| ている present | 賄っている | 賄っていない |
| ている polite | 賄っています | 賄っていません |
| ている past | 賄っていた | 賄っていなかった |
| ている past polite | 賄っていました | 賄っていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 賄えば | 賄わなければ |
| Conditional たら | 賄ったら | 賄わなかったら |
| Volitional | 賄おう | — |
| Volitional polite | 賄いましょう | — |
| Potential | 賄える | 賄えない |
| Passive | 賄われる | 賄われない |
| Causative | 賄わせる | 賄わせない |
| Imperative | 賄え | 賄うな |
1.
to provide meals; to feed
to prepare and serve food, especially for workers, guests, or staff
2.
to cover expenses; to finance
to pay for or provide the funds needed for something
賄う has two main meanings: providing food and covering costs.
Sense 1 - food
Originally referred to managing household affairs and preparing meals.
- Common in contexts of catering, staff meals, or group dining
- Related noun: 賄い (staff meal at restaurants)
Sense 2 - finances
Extended to mean covering or financing expenses.
Common collocations
RELATED NOUN まかない:
賄い refers to staff meals at restaurants, a beloved aspect of food service culture.
Transitivity
Transitive verb. Takes を for the object being provided or covered.
Register: Neutral. Common in both everyday and business contexts.