1.
stance; posture; guard
A physical position of readiness, especially in martial arts, sports, or combat. The way one positions the body in preparation for action.
剣道の構えをとる。
To take a kendo stance.
上段の構えから打ち込む。
To strike from a high guard position.
相手の攻撃に対して身構えの構えをとった。
I took a defensive stance against the opponent's attack.
2.
attitude; readiness; preparedness
A mental state of readiness or a particular attitude toward something. Used figuratively to describe being prepared or on guard.
気楽な構えでいい。
A relaxed attitude is fine.
何があっても動じない構えだ。
He has an attitude of not being fazed by anything.
試験に向けて万全の構えで臨む。
I will approach the exam fully prepared.
3.
structure; appearance; scale (of a building)
The external appearance or imposing size of a building or establishment.
立派な構えの屋敷だ。
It's a mansion with an impressive appearance.
大きな構えの店が通りに並んでいる。
Large-scale shops line the street.
門構えからして、かなり裕福な家のようだ。
Judging from the gate's appearance, it seems to be a quite wealthy household.
The noun form of 構える (to set up, to take a stance). The reading changes from かまえ to がまえ when used as a suffix in compounds like 門構え and 身構え (rendaku).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 構えをとる — to take a stance/posture
- 上段の構え — high guard (kendo/martial arts)
- 中段の構え — middle guard
- 門構え — the appearance of a gate/entrance
- 身構え — bracing oneself, being on guard
USAGE:
- In martial arts, specific stances have fixed names: 上段/中段/下段の構え
- As a suffix, undergoes rendaku: 心構え (mental preparedness), 門構え (gate appearance)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 姿勢 — posture; physical body alignment, not necessarily implying readiness for action
- 態勢 — readiness, preparation; more about organizational or systemic preparedness
- 心構え — mental preparedness; specifically about psychological readiness