唸る・呻る|うなるunaru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
唸る唸る（うなる） is the more common written form, using both kanji and kana; it covers the senses “to groan,” “to moan,” “to roar,” and “to howl.”
呻る呻る（うなる） is a rarely used form written with both kanji and kana; learners will seldom encounter it and should generally choose 唸る（うなる） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto groan; to moan
- godan verb, intransitive verbto roar; to howl; to growl
- godan verb, intransitive verbto hum (engine, wind, etc.); to buzz; to whiz; to sough; to make a low, dull sound
- godan verb, intransitive verbto ooh and aah (in admiration)
- godan verb, transitive verbto sing in a strong, low voice (esp. traditional chant or recitation)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be about to burst; to overflow
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 唸る（うなる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 唸ります（うなります） |
| Negative (nai) | 唸らない（うならない） |
| polite (masen) | 唸りません（うなりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 唸らず・唸らぬ（うならず・うならぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 唸った（うなった） |
| polite (mashita) | 唸りました（うなりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 唸らなかった（うならなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 唸りませんでした（うなりませんでした） |
| Te form | 唸って（うなって） |
| Potential | 唸れる（うなれる） |
| Passive | 唸られる（うなられる） |
| Causative | 唸らせる（うならせる） |
| Causative passive | 唸らせられる・唸らされる（うならせられる・うならされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 唸れば（うなれば） |
| tara | 唸ったら（うなったら） |
| Volitional | 唸ろう（うなろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 唸りましょう（うなりましょう） |
| Imperative | 唸れ（うなれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Related吠えるほえるNeutralFor dogs barking loudly, people yelling, or wind and waves howling; the sound is high and loud, whereas 「唸る」 is low-pitched.
- Related咆哮ほうこうWrittenWritten/formal word for a wild beast roaring loudly; far more forceful and intense than 「唸る」, which suggests a low growl or groan.
- Related轟くとどろくNeutralFor huge sounds like thunder or cannon fire resounding all around, and for a name becoming famous; the point is sheer loudness, while 「唸る」 is low and sustained.
- RelatedうめくNeutralMostly for people moaning in pain, as in 「痛みに呻く」, or a beast's low growl; unlike 「唸る」 it cannot describe an engine or wind humming.
- Related呻吟しんぎんWrittenWritten, Chinese-derived word for moaning from illness or pain; can take する. It never covers beast roars or machine sounds; in daily speech say 「呻く」.
- Related哮るたけるWrittenLiterary, elegant word for a beast roaring fiercely; rare in modern Japanese. More intense than the low 「唸る」; in everyday speech 「吠える」 is used.
Use 「唸る」 for low growls, groans, or the hum of an engine. For moaning in pain say 「呻く」, for loud barking 「吠える」, and for thunderous booming 「轟く」; 「咆哮」「呻吟」「哮る」 belong to written prose.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
