忍(しの)び寄(よ)る

しのびよる

verb (godan)

to creep up; to steal near

1. to creep up; to steal near; to sneak up on

To approach quietly and stealthily, so as not to be noticed. Used both literally (a person sneaking up) and figuratively (danger, old age, or fear approaching gradually).

猫(ねこ)が獲物(えもの)に忍(しの)び寄(よ)る。

The cat creeps up on its prey.

背後(はいご)から忍(しの)び寄(よ)る足音(あしおと)が聞(き)こえた。

I heard footsteps sneaking up from behind.

不安(ふあん)が静(しず)かに忍(しの)び寄(よ)ってくるのを感(かん)じた。

I felt anxiety quietly creeping up on me.

USAGE:
Literally used for people or animals sneaking up on someone. Figuratively, it is commonly used with abstract subjects like 危険(きけん) (danger), 老(お)い (old age), 不安(ふあん) (anxiety), or 影(かげ) (shadow) to describe something approaching ominously and gradually.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

背後(はいご)から忍(しの)び寄(よ)る (to sneak up from behind)
危険(きけん)が忍(しの)び寄(よ)る (danger creeps up)
老(お)いが忍(しの)び寄(よ)る (old age creeps up)
そっと忍(しの)び寄(よ)る (to creep up quietly)

CONJUGATION:
Godan verb (る→ら行): 忍(しの)び寄(よ)らない, 忍(しの)び寄(よ)ります, 忍(しの)び寄(よ)って

general

Added 2026.3.5 16:57

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