1.
to wear (a sword, etc.), to carry on one's person
To have something attached to or carried at one's waist or on one's person. Often used for weapons, tools, or similar items.
刀を帯びる。
To wear a sword.
武士は常に刀を帯びていた。
Samurai always wore swords.
警備員は無線機を帯びて巡回していた。
The security guard was carrying a radio while making rounds.
2.
to be tinged with, to take on, to carry (a quality or characteristic)
To take on or exhibit a quality, color, tone, or character. Used figuratively for abstract qualities becoming apparent.
空が赤みを帯びてきた。
The sky began to take on a reddish tinge.
彼の声は怒りを帯びていた。
His voice carried anger.
議論が次第に熱を帯び、参加者たちの表情も真剣さを増していった。
The discussion gradually grew heated, and the participants' expressions became increasingly serious.
CONJUGATION:
Ichidan verb: 帯びない / 帯びます / 帯びる / 帯びれば / 帯びた.
USAGE:
Sense 1 (wear/carry) is more literary and often appears in historical or formal contexts. Sense 2 (be tinged with) is more commonly used in everyday Japanese, describing how something takes on a quality — a color, an emotion, heat, or other abstract characteristic. Common patterns include ～を帯びる and ～を帯びた + noun.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 熱を帯びる: to become heated, to intensify
- 赤みを帯びる: to take on a reddish tinge
- 丸みを帯びる: to become rounded
- 現実味を帯びる: to take on a sense of reality
- 緊張感を帯びる: to take on a sense of tension