Japanese word

揺さぶる

Pronunciation

Romajiyusaburu

Meaning

  • verbshake

Example

強い風が木を揺さぶります。tsuyo i kaze ga ki o yu sa bu ri ma su

Strong winds shake the tree.

Illustration for 揺さぶる (shake)

More examples

その知らせは皆の心を揺さぶりました。so no shi ra se wa mina no kokoro o yu sa bu ri ma shi ta

The news deeply moved everyone.

Core concept

Applies force that makes a person or object rock, jolt, or lose its steadiness.

Common phrases

  • 肩を揺さぶるkata o yu sa bu ru

    shake someone's shoulders

  • 心を揺さぶるkokoro o yu sa bu ru

    move someone deeply

  • 感情を揺さぶるkan jō o yu sa bu ru

    stir someone's emotions

Similar words

揺するyusuru: To shake something repeatedly by moving it back and forth.
揺らすyurasu: To cause something to sway, rock, or move unsteadily.
揺り動かすyuriugokasu: To move something with strong repeated motion or stir a person's feelings.
揺るがすyurugasu: To make a person's confidence, beliefs, or position less firm.

Definition in Japanese

物や人を大きく揺れ動かし、安定や心の落ち着きを失わせる。mono ya hito o ō ki ku yu re ugo ka shi an tei ya kokoro no o chi tsu ki o ushina wa se ru

Word origin

揺さぶる (yusaburu) is a native Japanese verb associated with 揺する (yusuru, "to shake"); the relationship helps explain its meaning of vigorous shaking, though the full formation is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The figurative use of 揺さぶる (yusaburu) makes it suitable for describing speech or news that shakes a person's confidence rather than the person's body.

Other meanings

  • joltverb
  • rockverb

Related words

  • 揺さぶりyusaburijoltnoun

Word lists with this word