遠とおのく

と

お

の

く

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

move off into the distance; recede; fade away

Describes physical distance increasing, or sounds, sensations, or consciousness fading away. Often used with 音, 意識, 足音, etc.

船ふねが遠とおのいていく。
The boat is moving off into the distance.
意い識しきが遠とおのくのを感かんじた。
I felt my consciousness fading away.

2

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

drift away; distance oneself; become less frequent

Used for relationships, habits, or frequency: growing apart from someone, drifting away from an activity, or visits/customers falling off. Often with ～から.

最さい近きん、彼かれとは遠とおのいてしまった。
Lately, I've drifted apart from him.
足あしが遠とおのいて、あの店みせには行いかなくなった。
I stopped going to that shop; my visits became less frequent.

Written forms

遠とおのくUsage92%
Standard kanji spelling.
遠とお退のくUsage7%
Alternate kanji spelling; less common but still used.
とおのくUsage1%
Kana spelling; common in informal writing.

Kanji

遠distant, far
退retreat, withdraw, retire

Similar words

離はなれる
離れる is a general verb for physical or abstract separation. 遠のく emphasizes the process of becoming distant or fading, often with a nuance of gradual loss.
遠とおざかる
遠ざかる also means to move away or become distant, but is more commonly used for physical distance or deliberate distancing. 遠のく often implies a natural, sometimes unwelcome, drifting away.

Etymology

Compound of 遠 (とお, 'far') + のく (archaic verb meaning 'to remove oneself'). The exact derivation of のく is uncertain, but it is related to 退く (のく, 'to step aside').