Meaning and Usage
The verb 傾く (かたむく) primarily means "to tilt," "to lean," or "to incline." It can describe physical objects leaning or tilting, such as buildings, boats, or furniture. It also has a figurative use to express leaning toward an opinion, tendency, or preference.
Common Contexts
- Physical inclination: describing something that is not upright or is slanting.
- Figurative inclination: expressing bias or tendency toward a particular idea or feeling.
Collocations and Patterns
- 建物が傾く (たてものがかたむく): a building tilts
- 意見が〜に傾く (いけんが〜にかたむく): an opinion leans toward ~
- 船が傾く (ふねがかたむく): a boat tilts
Register and Nuance
傾く is a neutral verb used in both formal and informal contexts. It is often used in written and spoken Japanese when describing physical tilting or metaphorical leaning. It is not typically used for people physically leaning their bodies; other verbs like 体を傾ける are used for that.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 傾く with 倒れる (たおれる), which means "to fall down." 傾く implies a tilt or lean without necessarily falling over, while 倒れる means to collapse or fall completely. Remember that 傾く focuses on inclination or slanting rather than falling.