ichidan verb, transitive verb
blame; reproach; find fault with
Used when criticizing or taking someone to task for a fault, mistake, or questionable action. It is more serious and somewhat more written than casual 責める.
小さなミスをそんなに咎めないでください。
Please do not blame me so much for a small mistake.
誰も彼
No one criticized his judgment.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
question; challenge; call to account
Used when someone in authority stops or questions a person whose behavior seems suspicious or improper. Common subjects include 警官, 警備員, or a superior.
警備員が入り口で不審な男を咎めた。
The security guard challenged a suspicious man at the entrance.
夜中に歩いていたら警官に咎められた。
When I was walking late at night, I was questioned by a police officer.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
aggravate an injury; make a wound inflamed
Limited and old-fashioned or uncommon medical-like use for worsening a wound or sore, often by touching, scratching, or irritating it. Modern Japanese often uses 悪化させる instead.
かさぶたを掻いて傷を咎めてしまった。
I scratched the scab and ended up aggravating the wound.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
prick one's conscience; feel guilty
Intransitive use, especially in the fixed expression 気が咎める, meaning that one's conscience bothers one.
See also: 気が咎める
友人に本当のことを言わず、少し気が咎めた。
I felt a little guilty for not telling my friend the truth.