Looking up...
遠ざかる
とおざかる (tōzakaru)
What does "遠ざかる" mean?
to move away駅はだんだん遠ざかっていった。
The station gradually moved away.
How to use "遠ざかる" correctly?
neutral
To become more distant in space or time; to recede.
列車がホームを遠ざかっていった。
The train moved away from the platform.
その記憶は遠ざかっていった。
That memory faded away.
Often used for physical distance or emotional detachment. Can imply gradual separation.
neutral
To keep at a distance; to avoid contact.
彼は私を遠ざかっているように感じた。
I felt he was keeping his distance from me.
Implies intentional avoidance or emotional withdrawal.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: Confusing with 遠ざける
遠ざかる (intransitive) means 'to move away' while 遠ざける (transitive) means 'to keep away' or 'to push away'. Example: 彼は私を遠ざけた (He kept me at a distance) vs. 彼は遠ざかった (He moved away).
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Emotional Distance
遠ざかる can describe both physical separation (e.g., a train moving away) and emotional detachment (e.g., a fading memory or strained relationship). Context determines the nuance.
Word Origin
From 遠い (とおい, 'distant') + suffix -ざかる (-zakaru, indicating movement away). The -zakaru suffix is a classical Japanese verb-forming suffix indicating separation or removal.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both literal (physical distance) and figurative (emotional/relationship distance) contexts. Often appears in past tense to describe completed separation (e.g., 遠ざかった).
Word Breakdown
遠い
distant
rootざかる
to move away (suffix)
suffix和英辞典