寄り添う

• Reading: よりそう
• Romaji: yorisou
• Kanji breakdown: 寄 (ki/yoru) — to draw near, to approach; 添 (ten/sou) — to accompany, to be alongside
• Pronunciation: /jo.ɾi.so.ɯ/

Meaning

To snuggle up to; to nestle close; to stand by someone in support. Conveys both physical closeness and emotional solidarity.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb from 寄る (to draw near) and 添う (to accompany, to be at someone's side). While the literal image is of two bodies drawing close together, the dominant usage is figurative — offering empathetic support to someone in pain, grief, or difficulty. It implies gentle, sustained presence rather than active intervention.

Examples

1. 悲しみにくれる友人に寄り添うことしか、その時はできなかった。 All I could do at the time was stay close to my grief-stricken friend.
2. 看護師は患者に寄り添いながら、丁寧にケアを続けた。 The nurse continued to provide attentive care while staying by the patient's side.
3. 市民の声に寄り添った政策こそが、本当の行政だと思う。 I believe that policies that truly stand by the voices of citizens are what real governance is about.

Usage Guide

Context: care, support, relationships, nursing, policy, grief

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Compound of 寄る (yoru — to draw close, to approach) and 添う (sou — to accompany, to be alongside). The 添う component carries a classical nuance of faithfully remaining by another's side, as in marriage vows (連れ添う — to be lifelong partners).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: General