音読み: ケイ
訓読み: うやまう
画数: 12
部首: 攵（のぶん）
Meaning
Respect / Honor / Revere
- Basic forms
- 敬う — to respect; to honor; to revere / base form
- 敬います — respect; honor / masu form
- 敬った — respected; honored / ta form
- 敬って — respect and … / te form
- 敬わない — do not respect / negative
- 敬えば — if (one) respects / conditional
- 敬え — respect! / imperative
- Common expressions
- 年長者を敬う — respect elders
- 先人を敬う — honor those who came before
- 神を敬う — revere a god
- More
- 敬われる — be respected; be honored / passive
- 敬っている — is respecting; holds in respect / state
敬う（うやまう） is a godan transitive verb. It expresses deep respect or reverence, often describing an inner attitude rather than a visible action.
- 敬意 — respect
- 尊敬 — admiration; esteem
- 敬語 — honorific language
- 敬礼 — salute
- 敬遠 — polite avoidance
- 敬愛 — love and respect
- 失敬 — rudeness; excuse me
敬 combines components tied to careful speech and action with 攵 (action), expressing reverent conduct. It’s central to Japanese politeness, appearing in both daily etiquette and formal language.
年上の人を 敬うことは 大切です。
It’s important to show respect to your elders.
先生に 敬意を 表します。
I express my respect to the teacher.
尊敬 — respect; esteem