揺れる|ゆれるyureru[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto shake; to sway; to rock; to swing; to tremble; to jolt; to pitch; to roll; to flicker
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto become unstable; to become unsettled; to be shaken; to waver
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 揺れる（ゆれる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 揺れます（ゆれます） |
| Negative (nai) | 揺れない（ゆれない） |
| polite (masen) | 揺れません（ゆれません） |
| classical zu / nu | 揺れず・揺れぬ（ゆれず・ゆれぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 揺れた（ゆれた） |
| polite (mashita) | 揺れました（ゆれました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 揺れなかった（ゆれなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 揺れませんでした（ゆれませんでした） |
| Te form | 揺れて（ゆれて） |
| Potential | 揺れられる（ゆれられる） |
| Passive | 揺れられる（ゆれられる） |
| Causative | 揺れさせる（ゆれさせる） |
| Causative passive | 揺れさせられる（ゆれさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 揺れれば（ゆれれば） |
| tara | 揺れたら（ゆれたら） |
| Volitional | 揺れよう（ゆれよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 揺れましょう（ゆれましょう） |
| Imperative | 揺れろ（ゆれろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
木が風で揺れる
風が木を揺らす
揺れる focuses on the thing that moves, with the cause optionally expressed by で; 揺らす focuses on the agent that makes something move, with the affected thing marked by を.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym揺るぐゆるぐWrittenWritten/formal prose for shaking or wavering; very often in the negative 「揺るがない」, meaning unshakable.
- Synonym揺らぐゆらぐNeutralSways, or (of a base, trust, resolve) wavers, as in 「信頼が揺らぐ」.
- SynonymガタガタCasualOnomatopoeic: rattling loudly, or trembling with cold, as in 「ガタガタ震える」.
- Synonym震動しんどうWrittenWritten/formal prose: vibration or tremor, as in 「地面が震動する」.
- SynonymふらふらCasualOnomatopoeic: staggering unsteadily or feeling dizzy, as in 「疲れてふらふら」.
- Synonym震えるふるえるNeutralTo tremble or shiver, as in 「寒さで震える」; focuses on fine, small trembling.
- SynonymゆらゆらCasualOnomatopoeic: slow, gentle swaying, as in 「ゆらゆら揺れる」.
- Synonym揺動ようどうWrittenWritten/formal prose for shaking or swaying; leans technical.
- Synonymぐら付くぐらつくCasualColloquial: to wobble unsteadily, or for resolve to waver, as in 「決心がぐらつく」.
- SynonymガクガクCasualOnomatopoeic: legs going weak and trembling, as in 「膝がガクガクする」.
- Synonym震盪しんとうWrittenWritten/formal prose for violent shaking; best known in 「脳震盪」 (concussion).
- Synonym揺らめくゆらめくWrittenWritten/formal prose: to flicker or sway, of flames, shadows and the like, as in 「炎が揺らめく」.
- SynonymふらつくCasualColloquial: unsteady on one's feet, or to wander about, as in 「足がふらつく」.
- Synonym震うふるうWrittenWritten/formal prose: to tremble, as in 「恐怖に震う」.
- Synonym揺り動くゆりうごくWrittenWritten/formal prose, intransitive: to quake or sway; rare — in everyday speech just say 「揺れる」.
- SynonymがたつくCasualColloquial: to rattle and wobble; also of an organization becoming unstable.
- Synonym打ち震えるうちふるえるWrittenWritten/formal prose: the whole body trembling, as in 「感動に打ち震える」.
- Related揺さぶるゆさぶるNeutralTransitive: to shake something hard or to shake someone emotionally, as in 「心を揺さぶる」.
- Related揺るがすゆるがすWrittenWritten/formal prose, transitive: to shock or shake something, as in 「世界を揺るがす事件」.
- RelatedゆするCasualColloquial, transitive: to shake something; also means to extort or blackmail.
- Related揺らすゆらすNeutralTransitive: to make something sway or rock, as in 「ブランコを揺らす」.
- Related揺すぶるゆすぶるNeutralTransitive: to shake something, as in 「肩を揺すぶる」; close in sense to 「揺さぶる」.
- Related震わせるふるわせるNeutralTransitive: to make something quiver or tremble, as in 「声を震わせる」.
- Related揺り動かすゆりうごかすNeutralTransitive: to shake something, or to stir someone emotionally, as in 「心を揺り動かす」.
- Antonym静止するWrittenWritten/formal prose antonym: to be still, motionless.
- Antonym安定するNeutralAntonym: to settle and become stable, as in 「情勢が安定する」.
「揺れる」 is the default for something swaying or shaking. To shake something, use 「揺らす」 or 「揺さぶる」; for a foundation or trust wavering, 「揺らぐ」; for shaking something to its core, 「揺るがす」; for trembling, 「震える」; for unsteady steps, 「ふらつく」. Onomatopoeia like 「ガタガタ」 and 「ふらふら」 add vivid, colloquial nuance. The opposite is 「静止する」 (written) or 「安定する」.
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
