Meaning and Usage
The verb とがめる means "to blame" or "to rebuke" someone for a fault or mistake. It is often used in contexts where a person is criticized or reproached for something they did wrong. This word carries a somewhat formal or serious tone and is common in written and spoken Japanese at higher proficiency levels.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see とがめる used when talking about parents or teachers scolding children or students, or when someone is held accountable for a misdeed. It can also be used reflexively or in expressions where someone refrains from blaming themselves.
Collocations and Patterns
- とがめる + 人 (e.g., 先生にとがめられる): to be blamed by someone
- 失敗をとがめる: to blame a failure or mistake
- 過ちをとがめることなく: without blaming (oneself) for a mistake
Nuance and Register
This verb is more formal and less casual than words like しかる (to scold) or 叱る. It often implies a moral or ethical judgment rather than just a casual reprimand. Learners should avoid confusing it with milder expressions of correction.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse とがめる with simple scolding verbs. Remember that とがめる often implies a stronger or more serious blame, sometimes with a sense of reproach or moral fault.