労わる

Hey everyone! Let's dive into another useful Japanese word: 労わる (労わる). It's a verb that means 'to pity,' 'to sympathize with,' or 'to care for.' You'll find it often expresses a kind, compassionate attitude towards someone who is in a difficult situation, or someone who is working hard.

§ Basic Usage of 労わる

When you 労わる someone, you're showing them kindness, understanding their struggles, and perhaps offering comfort or help. Think of it as looking after someone with a gentle heart. It's often used when talking about caring for the elderly, the sick, or those who are putting in a lot of effort.

Transitive Verb

労わる is a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. The person or thing you are showing care for will typically be marked with the particle を (o).

This sentence means: He cared for his sick mother. Here, 母 (haha, mother) is the direct object being cared for.

This translates to: She sympathized with her hardworking colleague. 同僚 (dōryō, colleague) is the object of her sympathy and care.

§ Common Contexts and Nuances

You'll often hear or use 労わる in these situations:

• Caring for the weak or vulnerable: This includes the elderly, children, or people who are unwell.

  お年寄りを労わる気持ちが大切だ。

  Meaning: It's important to have feelings of care for the elderly.

• Sympathizing with hard work or effort: When someone has been working tirelessly, you can use 労わる to express your appreciation and understanding of their efforts.

  大変な仕事を終えた部下を労わった。

  Meaning: I showed care to my subordinate who finished a tough job.

§ Phrases and Expressions with 労わる

While 労わる is quite direct, you might encounter it in slightly more nuanced phrases:

• 労わりの気持ち (itamari no kimochi): This means 'feelings of sympathy' or 'caring feelings.'

  彼女はいつも労わりの気持ちを持っている。

  Meaning: She always has caring feelings.

§ Don't Confuse It With...

While 労わる expresses sympathy, it's not quite the same as 'feeling sorry for' (かわいそうに思う - kawaisō ni omou). 'かわいそうに思う' can sometimes carry a nuance of looking down on someone, whereas 労わる is always about respectful, active care and understanding.

Meaning: The teacher cared for the students and gave them words of encouragement.

Notice how in this example, 労わる leads to a positive action (encouragement). It's about nurturing and supporting, not just passively feeling bad for someone.

Keep practicing using 労わる in different contexts, and you'll get a good feel for its warm, empathetic meaning. Good luck with your studies!

§ What "労わる" Means

The Japanese verb "労わる" (いたわる) is a really useful word to know. It's often translated as 'to pity,' 'to sympathize with,' or 'to care for.' But it's more than just feeling sorry for someone. It implies taking action and treating someone with kindness, often because they are in a difficult situation, sick, or elderly. Think of it as showing active compassion.

Japanese Word

労わる (いたわる)

Definition

To pity, to sympathize with, to care for; to treat with kindness.

CEFR Level

B1

§ Where You'll Hear "労わる"

You'll hear "労わる" in many everyday situations, especially when people are talking about showing consideration for others. Here are some common contexts:

• At work: When colleagues support each other, especially when someone is stressed or working hard.
• At school: Teachers or older students showing kindness to younger or struggling students.
• In news reports: Often used when discussing humanitarian efforts, care for the elderly, or support for victims of disasters.
• In conversations about family: Talking about caring for parents, children, or sick relatives.

§ Examples of "労わる" in Use

Let's look at some examples to help you understand how "労わる" is used in real sentences. Pay attention to the situations described.

Hint

She always cares for the people around her.

This sentence shows a general characteristic of someone who is kind and considerate to those around them.

Hint

I spoke words of comfort to my tired colleague.

Here, the action of "労わる" is expressed through words, showing sympathy and care for a tired coworker. This is very common in office settings.

Hint

It's important to have a feeling of caring for the elderly.

This emphasizes the importance of having a considerate attitude towards older people, which is a significant cultural value in Japan.

Hint

To nurse the sick with care/kindness.

Here, "労わる" describes the manner in which someone is being nursed or cared for – with gentleness and compassion.

§ "労わる" vs. Similar Words

While "労わる" can sometimes feel similar to other words like 'to help' (助ける - tasukeru) or 'to worry about' (心配する - shinpai suru), it carries a specific nuance. "労わる" emphasizes empathetic action and gentle treatment born from understanding someone's hardship, rather than just offering assistance or feeling concern.

For instance:

• You might 助ける (tasukeru) someone who dropped their books.
• You might 心配する (shinpai suru) about a friend's health.
• But you would 労わる (itawaru) a friend who is recovering from an illness, making sure they are comfortable and not overexerting themselves.

§ Putting It into Practice

To really get a feel for "労わる," try to notice when and how Japanese speakers use it. Listen for it in dramas, news, or even daily conversations. When you hear it, think about what kind of care or kindness is being expressed.

Using "労わる" correctly shows a deeper understanding of Japanese social nuances and respect for others' feelings. It's a great word to add to your vocabulary to express genuine compassion.

§ Similar words to 労わる (itamawaru)

Let's look at some words that have similar meanings to 労わる. Understanding these differences will help you use 労わる correctly.

§ 労わる (itamawaru) vs. 気遣う (kizukau)

労わる (itamawaru)

Focuses on showing kindness, care, or sympathy towards someone who is in a weaker position, suffering, or needs support. It often implies a more active, hands-on approach to providing comfort or help.

気遣う (kizukau)

Means to be considerate, to show concern, or to take care not to cause trouble for someone. It often involves anticipating needs or potential problems and acting preemptively. It's more about being mindful of someone's feelings or situation.

Here's how to think about the difference:

• Use 労わる when you are actively comforting or helping someone who is clearly in need, sick, injured, or feeling down. It's about providing direct support and kindness.
• Use 気遣う when you are being thoughtful and considerate of someone's feelings, circumstances, or potential difficulties, often without them explicitly asking for help. It's about being sensitive to their situation.

I cared for my sick friend. (Here, you are actively showing kindness and care.)

I was considerate of her feelings and didn't say anything. (Here, you are being mindful of her feelings.)

§ 労わる (itamawaru) vs. 慰める (nagusameru)

労わる (itamawaru)

Again, this focuses on showing kindness, care, or sympathy, often involving practical support or comforting actions for someone who is suffering or weak.

慰める (nagusameru)

Means to comfort, console, or cheer someone up who is sad, upset, or disappointed. The focus is specifically on alleviating emotional distress.

Key difference:

• Use 労わる when you are showing general kindness and care, which might include comforting, but also extends to looking after their physical well-being or general needs.
• Use 慰める specifically when you are trying to make someone feel better emotionally after a setback or sadness.

To take care of one's tired body. (Here, it's about treating your body kindly.)

I comforted the crying child. (Here, the action is specifically to ease the child's sadness.)

§ 労わる (itamawaru) vs. 世話をする (sewa o suru)

労わる (itamawaru)

Conveys a sense of gentle care, sympathy, and kindness, often towards someone who is vulnerable or in a difficult situation. It has a strong emotional component.

世話をする (sewa o suru)

Means to take care of, look after, or attend to someone or something. It implies more practical and routine care, like feeding a pet, raising a child, or nursing someone. It can be done without a strong emotional connection.

Here's the distinction:

• Use 労わる when the emphasis is on the compassionate and sympathetic way you are treating someone, often because they are suffering or weak.
• Use 世話をする for general upkeep and practical care, regardless of the emotional state of the person or thing being cared for.

I cared for my mother who was bedridden with illness. (This implies emotional support and gentle care.)

To take care of a child. (This is the general act of raising and looking after a child.)

§ When to use 労わる (itamawaru)

Use 労わる when you want to express that you are showing deep kindness, sympathy, or gentle care towards someone who is:

• Sick or injured
• Elderly or weak
• Tired or exhausted
• Experiencing hardship or suffering
• In a position of vulnerability

It carries a nuance of empathy and a desire to alleviate discomfort or distress through gentle treatment and consideration. It's about treating someone with respect for their current state and providing comfort.

To care for one's aged parents (with kindness and sympathy).

It is important to have feelings of sympathy for those who are suffering.