従順な
解説 Definition
他者の支配や意見に従順に従う傾向のある性質。自分の意見を主張せず、相手の言うことを受け入れる様子を表します。
Submissive describes a person or animal that is ready to obey others and does not try to take control. It is often used in discussions of behavior, relationships, or personality, and it can suggest passiveness.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
submit（提出する／屈する）を知っていると覚えやすい語です。sub- は「下へ」で、submissive は「自分を下に置いて相手に従う」感覚。単に言いつけを守る obedient より、相手に押されて自己主張しないニュアンスが強めです。passive は消極的全般、submissive は“相手への服従”が中心。be submissive to authority, a submissive attitude のようによく使われます。assertive（はっきり主張する）と対比し、submit oneself to ... の形も一緒に結ぶと定着しやすいです。
If you know `submit`, this word is easier. `Submissive` has the idea of putting yourself under someone else, so it is about yielding rather than speaking up. It becomes clearer if you contrast it with `assertive`, which means the opposite attitude.
例文
His submissive nature made him an easy target.
彼の従順な性格のせいで、彼は格好の標的になってしまった。
She refused to be submissive in her relationship.
彼女はその恋愛関係で従順でいることを拒んだ。
The dog showed a submissive posture.
その犬は従順な姿勢を見せました。
submissive の類義語・関連語
submissive の語源・成り立ち Etymology
submissive はラテン語 submittere（下に送る・服従させる）由来で、sub-「下へ」+ miss/mit「送る」+ -ive「〜しがちな」から成ります。もともと「自分を下に置く」感覚なので「従順な」となり、submit や mission も同じ語根です。
Submissive comes from Latin *submittere*, meaning "to place under" or "yield," built from *sub-* "under" and *mittere* "to send." The adjective ending *-ive* was added later in English and French forms. The original idea was putting oneself lower, which developed into the sense of being ready to obey. Related English words include *submit* and *mission*, which share the same Latin root.
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