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渋々と
shibushibu to
reluctantly
彼は渋々と承諾した。
He agreed reluctantly.
informal
Doing something unwillingly or with hesitation, showing reluctance.
母は渋々と財布を出してくれた。
My mother reluctantly took out her wallet.
彼は渋々と引き下がった。
He reluctantly backed down.
Often used to describe actions that are performed with visible reluctance or displeasure.
Pro Tip
Natural Usage
Use '渋々と' when describing actions that are done with visible reluctance, such as reluctantly agreeing to a request or accepting an unpleasant task. It is often paired with verbs like '承諾する' (agree), '引き受ける' (accept), or '引き下がる' (back down).
Word Origin
The word '渋' (shibu) means 'astringent' or 'bitter,' and when doubled as '渋々' (shibushibu), it conveys a sense of reluctance or unwillingness. The particle 'と' (to) indicates the manner of the action, turning the phrase into an adverb.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in spoken Japanese to express reluctance in a polite yet clear manner. It is often accompanied by non-verbal cues such as sighs or hesitant body language to emphasize the reluctance.
Word Breakdown
渋
astringent/bitter/reluctant
root々
repetition mark (indicates reduplication)
suffixと
adverbial particle indicating manner
particle和英辞典