つまずく・躓くtsumazuku[0]heiban (flat)
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- godan verb, intransitive verbto trip (over); to stumble
- godan verb, intransitive verbto fail; to suffer a setback
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | つまずく |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | つまずきます |
| Negative (nai) | つまずかない |
| polite (masen) | つまずきません |
| classical zu / nu | つまずかず・つまずかぬ |
| Past (ta) | つまずいた |
| polite (mashita) | つまずきました |
| Past negative (nakatta) | つまずかなかった |
| polite (masen deshita) | つまずきませんでした |
| Te form | つまずいて |
| Potential | つまずける |
| Passive | つまずかれる |
| Causative | つまずかせる |
| Causative passive | つまずかせられる・つまずかされる |
| Conditional (ba) | つまずけば |
| tara | つまずいたら |
| Volitional | つまずこう |
| polite (mashou) | つまずきましょう |
| Imperative | つまずけ |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- SynonymけつまずくCasualColloquial and emphatic: your foot is suddenly caught and you lurch hard. Also used of plans hitting a snag. Stronger and more colloquial than 「躓く」.
- RelatedつんのめるCasualColloquial for pitching forward or falling headlong. 「躓く」 centers on the foot catching on something; this stresses the forward tumble.
- RelatedよろけるNeutralDescribes unsteady, staggering steps, whether or not anything trips you. 「躓く」 implies the foot is caught on something.
Use 「躓く」 for tripping and, figuratively, for setbacks. For a sudden, violent stumble say 「蹴躓く」; for pitching forward, 「つんのめる」; for wobbling without necessarily being tripped, 「よろける」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


