- 1〔守勢〕the defensive
受け身になる be [act] on the defensive
- 上司の鋭い質問に受け身になった
- He was put on the defensive by his boss's biting questions.
- 2〔消極的〕passiveness; passivity
- 人生は受け身になったら負けだ
- With a passive attitude one can never succeed in life.
- 彼は何をするにも受け身だ
- He never does anything on his own initiative.
- 3〔柔道などで〕ukemi; a defensive fall
- 受け身に回る
- counter with a defensive fall
- 4〔文法で〕the passive (voice)