Meaning and Usage
The verb "営む" (いとなむ) primarily means "to run or operate a business" or "to carry out/hold an event or ceremony." It is often used in formal or written contexts rather than casual conversation.
Common Contexts
- Business operations: "カフェを営む" (to run a café), "会社を営む" (to operate a company).
- Ceremonial or traditional events: "祭りを営む" (to hold a festival), "儀式を営む" (to conduct a ceremony).
- Livelihood or occupation: "農業を営む" (to engage in farming), indicating a sustained activity or way of life.
Collocations and Patterns
- 「〜を営む」: the most common pattern, indicating the activity or business being carried out.
- Often paired with nouns related to business (e.g., 店, 会社, カフェ) or events (e.g., 祭り, 儀式).
Register and Nuance
"営む" is formal and somewhat literary. In everyday conversation, people might use simpler verbs like "やる" or "する" for business or events. Using "営む" adds a sense of seriousness, tradition, or continuity.
Common Learner Mistake
Confusing "営む" with "行う" (おこなう), which also means "to carry out" or "to perform." While "行う" is more general and common, "営む" emphasizes ongoing management or operation, especially of a business or livelihood.
Use "営む" when you want to express the idea of running or managing something continuously or formally.