Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
首をもたげる (くびをもたげる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
raise one's head ; rear its head ; gain influence
idiomatic expression
Literally 'to raise one's head', used idiomatically for problems, doubts, or negative forces that begin to appear or gain strength. Often used with abstract subjects like 不安, 疑問, or 問題.
彼かれ の 心こころ に 疑ぎ 念ねん が 首くび を もたげ 始はじ め た 。
Doubts began to raise their head in his mind.
Written forms 首くび をもたげる
Standard kanji-kana spelling for this idiomatic expression.
首くび を 擡もた げる
Rare kanji spelling using 擡, which is not a jōyō kanji. Learners will almost always encounter the もたげる kana form.
Kanji 首 neck, counter for songs and poems Etymology From 首 (head) + もたげる (to raise, lift up). The verb もたげる is a rare transitive form related to 持ち上げる, and the expression is used idiomatically to describe something (often negative) beginning to appear or gain strength.