軽んじる

• 読み: かろんじる
• ローマ字: karonjiru
• 漢字の分解: 軽 (kei/karo) — light, trivial, slight
• 発音: /ka.ɾoɴ.dʑi.ɾɯ/

意味

To look down on; to make light of; to belittle; to treat as unimportant.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb derived from 軽い (light, trivial) with the suffix じる. The opposite of 重んじる (to respect, esteem). Used to describe treating something or someone as less important than they deserve. Common in formal discussions about social issues, values, and ethics. Can also appear as 軽んずる in more classical style.

例文

1. 人の努力を軽んじるべきではない。
2. 命を軽んじる風潮は危険だ。
3. 彼は規則を軽んじて問題を起こした。

使い方ガイド

場面: ethics, social commentary, formal writing

トーン: critical

起源と歴史

Formed from 軽 (light, trivial) plus the verbal suffix じる. The kanji 軽 originally depicted a lightweight chariot, contrasting with 重 (heavy). The pair 軽んじる/重んじる mirrors this opposition.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Professional