1.
to hesitate; to be reluctant; to refrain from
to hold back from doing something out of consideration, propriety, or fear of consequences
人目を憚る。
To be mindful of others' eyes (to act discretely).
憚りながら申し上げます。
I humbly venture to say (with all due respect)...
2.
to dominate; to hold sway
to exercise power or influence without restraint (often in the set phrase 憚ることなく)
憚ることなく意見を述べた。
He stated his opinion without hesitation.
批判を憚らない態度だった。
It was an attitude that didn't shy away from criticism.
憚る has nuances of hesitation out of respect or propriety.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 人目を憚る (to be conscious of others watching)
- 憚りながら (with all due respect; humbly)
- 憚ることなく (without hesitation)
- 世間を憚る (to be mindful of public opinion)
NEGATIVE FORM MEANING:
憚らない or 憚ることなく often means "without restraint" or "boldly."
FORMAL EXPRESSION:
憚りながら is a humble expression used before stating something that might be presumptuous.
EUPHEMISTIC NOUN:
お憚り is a euphemism for "toilet" (polite/dated).
SET PHRASE:
憚りさまでした (old polite expression after someone has done work)
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive/transitive (takes を in some uses).
RELATED TERMS:
- ためらう (to hesitate - general)
- 遠慮する (to refrain, hold back)
- 躊躇する (to hesitate)
REGISTER: Formal/literary. Common in formal speech and writing.