Translation and Meaning of: 受身 - ukemi

If you have ever studied Japanese, you have probably come across the word 受身 (うけみ), which means "passive" or "passive voice." But do you know where it comes from, how its kanji was created, or why it is so important in Japanese grammar? In this article, we will explore the etymology, the pictogram, and the everyday usage of this word, as well as tips for memorizing it for good. Here at Suki Nihongo, you will also find practical examples to include in your Anki and boost your studies!

Origin and etymology of 受身

The word 受身 is composed of two kanji: 受 (うけ), which means "to receive," and 身 (み), which can be translated as "body" or "one's own being." Together, they form the idea of "receiving something within oneself," which makes complete sense when we think about the passive voice. After all, in grammar, the subject of a passive sentence is precisely the one who "receives" the action.

Interestingly, the kanji 受 has an interesting history: it derives from an ancient pictogram that represented two hands passing an object. On the other hand, 身 comes from a drawing that resembles a human body in profile. When combined, these ideograms reinforce the notion of something being accepted or endured by the individual. It is no wonder that 受身 can also appear in contexts outside of grammar, such as in martial arts, where it describes defensive techniques that "absorb" the opponent's attack.

Grammatical usage and popularity

In the Japanese language, 受身 (ukemi) is one of the pillars of sentence construction. Unlike Portuguese, where the passive voice is more common in formal texts, in Japanese it appears frequently even in everyday conversations. Phrases like "窓が開けられた (まどがあけられた)" — "The window was opened" — are completely natural and help emphasize the result of the action, not who performed it.

One detail that many students take a while to notice is that 受身 does not always have a literal translation as passive. In expressions like "雨に降られた (あめにふられた)", which means something like "I was caught by the rain", the passive structure conveys a sense of inconvenience or misfortune. This expressive use is so common that it has even become a meme among anime fans, with characters complaining "また先生に怒られた！ (またせんせいにおこられた！)" — "I got scolded by the teacher again!".

Tips for memorization and curiosities

To avoid confusing 受身 with other verbal forms, an infallible technique is to associate the kanji 受 with the idea of "receiving an action." Imagine that you are literally holding (受) the impact of something happening to you (身). If you prefer a more visual trick, think of 身 as a person bent over, accepting what comes from the outside.

A little-known curiosity is that 受身 has a "cousin" in the Japanese language: the word 受け流し (うけながし), used in kendō and judo to describe a movement that deflects a strike. Do you notice how the radical 受 appears again? This connection between grammar and martial arts shows how the Japanese love to link abstract concepts with concrete images. If you practice by listening to dialogues from doramas or animes, you will grasp the natural rhythm of these constructions in no time!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 受動 (Judou) - Passive, which indicates an action received or endured.
• 受け身 (UkemI) - Passive form in grammar, or a defensive posture.

受身

Romaji: ukemi
Kana: うけみ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: passive; passive voice

Meaning in English: passive;passive voice

Definition: An action taken by oneself in relation to another person or thing.

Example Sentences - (受身) ukemi

See below some example sentences:

私は受身の姿勢を取ります。

Watashi wa ukemi no shisei o torimasu

I assume the reception stance.

I take a passive posture.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 受身 (ukemi) - noun meaning "defensive position" or "receiving position"
• の (no) - particle that indicates the relationship of possession or attribution, in this case, "of the defensive position"
• 姿勢 (shisei) - noun meaning "posture" or "attitude"
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "adopt"
• 取ります (torimasu) - verb meaning "to adopt" or "to take over"