How to say "oscillation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 振動しんどうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the physical sense of 'oscillation': regular back-and-forth movement such as a pendulum's swing, and vibration generally. This is the word for the mechanical or physics sense.
- 動揺どうようnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbDenotes shaking or trembling — being agitated or unsettled, or a ship pitching and rolling. For the steady back-and-forth motion of 'oscillation' it is seldom the word you want.
For physical oscillation — a pendulum's swing or any regular back-and-forth vibration — use 振動; 動揺 means being shaken or trembling, often emotionally, and is seldom the right word for this English term.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
