重んじる

• Reading: おもんじる
• Romaji: omonjiru
• Kanji breakdown: 重 (jū/omo) — heavy, important, esteem
• Pronunciation: /o.moɴ.dʑi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To respect; to honour; to esteem; to prize. To place great importance on something.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb derived from 重い (heavy, important) with the suffix じる. Used to express valuing or respecting abstract concepts such as traditions, principles, or relationships. More formal and weighty than 大切にする. Often appears in discussions of values, policy, and cultural ideals.

Examples

1. 日本の企業は伝統を重んじる傾向がある。 Japanese companies tend to place great importance on tradition.
2. 自由を重んじる社会を目指すべきだ。 We should strive for a society that values freedom.
3. 彼は礼儀を重んじる人として知られている。 He is known as someone who greatly respects etiquette.

Usage Guide

Context: values, culture, policy

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Formed from 重 (heavy, important) plus the verbal suffix じる. The kanji 重 originally depicted a heavy load, extending metaphorically to mean something of great value or significance.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional