劣る

• 読み: おとる
• ローマ字: otoru
• 漢字の分解: 劣 (oto/retsu) — inferior, be inferior to
• 発音: /o.to.ɾɯ/

意味

To be inferior to; to fall behind; to be less than. Being lower in quality, ability, or rank compared to something else.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugating with the r-row (劣る → 劣らない → 劣って). Often used in comparative expressions with に: AはBに劣る (A is inferior to B). The negative form 劣らない (not inferior) is a compliment meaning 'just as good as.' Related noun 劣等 (rettou, inferiority) appears in 劣等感 (inferiority complex).

例文

1. この製品は品質で他社に劣る。
2. 経験では劣るが、やる気は負けない。
3. 彼女の実力はプロにも劣らない。

使い方ガイド

場面: comparison, business, evaluation

トーン: analytical

起源と歴史

The kanji 劣 combines 少 (shō, few/little) and 力 (ryoku, power), literally meaning 'little power' — a direct visual representation of being weaker or less capable.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal