1.
physical stance of readiness; defensive posture
A body posture taken in preparation for a physical confrontation, attack, or sudden movement. Used in martial arts and sports.
身構えを取る。
To take a defensive stance.
相手の攻撃に備えて身構えた。
He braced himself for the opponent's attack.
地震の揺れを感じて、とっさに身構えた。
Feeling the earthquake tremor, I instinctively braced myself.
2.
mental readiness; bracing oneself; being on guard
A figurative stance of psychological preparedness or wariness, as when anticipating difficulty, criticism, or an uncomfortable situation.
そんなに身構えなくてもいいよ。
You don't need to be so on guard.
面接と聞いて身構えてしまう。
I tense up when I hear the word 'interview.'
初対面の人には、つい身構えてしまうことがある。
I sometimes find myself being guarded around people I meet for the first time.
Noun form of the verb 身構える (to take a stance; to brace oneself). From 身 (body/self) + 構える (to set up; to assume a position). The noun form refers to both the physical posture and the psychological state of readiness.
The verb form 身構える is more common in everyday use. The noun 身構え appears in descriptions of stances and attitudes.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 身構えを取る: to assume a ready stance
- 身構えを解く: to relax one's guard
- つい身構えてしまう: to involuntarily tense up
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 構え: stance; posture — more general, used in martial arts for any fighting stance
- 警戒: vigilance; caution — focuses on being watchful against danger
- 緊張: tension; nervousness — describes the internal feeling rather than the outward readiness