Japanese word

うずくまる

Pronunciation

Romajiuzukumaru

Meaning

  • verbcrouch

Example

怖い犬を見ると、子どもは道の隅にうずくまります。kowa i inu o mi ru to ko do mo wa michi no sumi ni u zu ku ma ri ma su

When the child sees a scary dog, they crouch at the edge of the street.

Illustration for うずくまる (crouch)

More examples

疲れた学生はベンチのそばでしばらくうずくまりました。tsuka re ta gaku sei wa be n chi no so ba de shi ba ra ku u zu ku ma ri ma shi ta

The tired student crouched beside the bench for a while.

Core concept

Describes lowering the body and drawing the limbs inward into a compact posture.

Common phrases

  • 道の隅にうずくまるmichi no sumi ni u zu ku ma ru

    crouch at the edge of the street

  • 地面にうずくまるji men ni u zu ku ma ru

    crouch on the ground

  • 恐怖でうずくまるkyō fu de u zu ku ma ru

    cower in fear

Similar words

しゃがむshagamu: To lower the body by bending the knees, with the feet remaining on the ground.
しゃがみ込むshagamikomu: To lower the body into a crouched position and stay there.

Definition in Japanese

体を低くし、膝を曲げて身を小さくする。karada o hiku ku shi hiza o ma ge te mi o chii sa ku su ru

Word origin

As a native Japanese verb, うずくまる (uzukumaru) is conventionally written 蹲る (uzukumaru), whose kanji points to a crouching posture; its older internal formation is not securely known.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, うずくまる (uzukumaru) describes a posture rather than an emotion, so it does not by itself state that the person is afraid, unlike cower.

Other meanings

  • cowerverb
  • squatverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word