謙る

• Reading: へりくだる
• Romaji: herikudaru
• Kanji breakdown: 謙 (heri/ken) — humble, modest, self-deprecating
• Pronunciation: /he.ɾi.kɯ.da.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To humble oneself; to speak modestly; to be self-deprecating. Describes deliberately lowering one's own status when speaking to others.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. Closely tied to Japanese keigo (honorific language) culture. While moderate humility is valued, excessive use can sound insincere. The related adjective 謙虚 (kenkyo, humble) is the positive quality this verb embodies.

Examples

1. 彼女はいつも謙って自分の成果を話さない。 She always humbles herself and never talks about her own achievements.
2. あまり謙りすぎると逆に嫌味に聞こえる。 Being too self-deprecating can actually come off as insincere.
3. 目上の人の前では少し謙るのが礼儀だ。 It's proper etiquette to be a bit humble in front of your superiors.

Usage Guide

Context: keigo, social etiquette, business

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

From 謙 (to be humble/modest), a kanji of Chinese origin. The やまと言葉 (native Japanese) reading へりくだる combines へり (to decrease) with くだる (to descend), vividly describing the act of lowering oneself.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal