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頷く (うなずく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
nod ; nod in agreement ; bow one's head in assent
Describes the physical action of nodding, typically to show agreement, understanding, or acknowledgment. Often used in the progressive form うなずいている to describe someone nodding along.
ながら
、
生せい
徒と
たち
は
何なん
度ど
も
うなずい
て
い
た
。
The students nodded repeatedly as they listened to the teacher.
Written forms 頷く Usage 31% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
うなずく Usage 64%
Kana spelling; common in informal writing or when the kanji is considered difficult.
肯く Usage 4% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
rarely-used kanji form
うなづく Usage 1%
首肯く Usage <1% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
ateji (phonetic kanji usage) rarely-used kanji form
点頭く Usage <1% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
ateji (phonetic kanji usage) rarely-used kanji form
Kanji 肯 agreement, consent, comply with 首 neck, counter for songs and poems Similar words 首くび を 振ふ る Means 'to shake one's head' (to indicate refusal or disagreement), the opposite action of うなずく.
相あい 槌づち を 打う つ Refers to giving verbal or non-verbal backchannel signals (like 'uh-huh') during a conversation, often accompanied by nodding, but focuses on the conversational rhythm rather than the physical nod itself.
Etymology The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 頷 is composed of 含 (contain, include) and 頁 (head, page), suggesting the idea of 'containing one's head' or bowing. The reading うなずく may be related to 項 (うな, nape of the neck) and 突く (つく, to thrust), but this is not firmly established.
spot, point, mark
頭 head, counter for large animals 
