翳す

• Reading: かざす
• Romaji: kazasu
• Kanji breakdown: 翳 (ei/kaza) — shade, shadow, screen, hold over
• Pronunciation: /ka.za.sɯ/

Meaning

To hold up; to hold over; to shade; to screen; to pass (a card) over a reader.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated as 翳さ-ない, 翳し-ます. Used for physical gestures of holding something aloft or interposing it between oneself and light or heat. In modern usage also includes passing an IC card over a reader. Can convey both protection (shading one's eyes) and ceremonial display (holding up an object with intent).

Examples

1. 彼女は強い日差しを避けるために手をかざして歩いた。 She walked with her hand held up to shade herself from the strong sunlight.
2. 改札でICカードをかざすと、ゲートがすぐに開いた。 When he held his IC card over the ticket gate reader, the gate opened immediately.
3. 司祭は儀式の中で蝋燭を高く翳し、参列者に向かって礼をした。 The priest held a candle up high during the ceremony and bowed to the congregation.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, transportation, ceremony, narrative

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 翳 (shade, shadow) with the verb suffix す. Related to 影 (shadow), the word originally evoked creating shade by interposing an object between a light source and its target.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal