傾く

• Reading: かたむく
• Romaji: katamuku
• Kanji breakdown: 傾 (kei/katamu) — incline, lean, tilt, decline
• Pronunciation: /ka.ta.mɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To tilt; to lean; to incline; to decline (of fortunes, a dynasty, or power).

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated as 傾か-ない, 傾き-ます. Used both physically (a building leaning, a ship listing) and figuratively (a business declining, public opinion shifting, or a person's sympathies inclining toward one side). Common in formal and literary contexts to describe gradual shifts in power or fortune.

Examples

1. 古い塔が地震の影響で大きく傾いていた。 The old tower was leaning heavily due to the effects of the earthquake.
2. 世論が政府の方針に反対する方向へと傾きつつある。 Public opinion is gradually tilting toward opposition to the government's policy.
3. かつて栄えた王朝は内紛によって傾き、やがて滅んでいった。 The once-prosperous dynasty declined due to internal strife and eventually fell.

Usage Guide

Context: architecture, politics, history, opinion

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 傾 (incline, lean) with the verb suffix く. The kanji 傾 depicts a person leaning over an off-balance posture. Extended to describe systemic or political decline from a former position of power.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated