疎む

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 疎む, read うとむ, and it is a godan transitive verb for regarding someone or something unfavorably and keeping a distance.
• Basic usage: 疎む means to shun or avoid someone because they are viewed with dislike, discomfort, or distrust.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Deliberate distance rather than mere unfamiliarity
  • The forms are 疎む and 疎んで. The word goes beyond not knowing someone and describes treating a critical friend or an outside family as unwelcome and keeping them apart.
• A friend who gave advice and a family from outside
  • 彼は厳しい忠告をした友人を疎むようになりました。 — He came to shun the friend who had given him stern advice.
  • 村の人々は外から来た家族を疎んでいました。 — The villagers avoided the family that had come from outside.