Japanese word

震える

Pronunciation

Romajifurueru

Meaning

  • verbshake, shiver

Example

寒いと体が震えます。samu i to karada ga furu e ma su

My body shakes when I am cold.

Illustration for 震える (shake)

More examples

寒いと私は震えます。samu i to watashi wa furu e ma su

I shiver when I am cold.

緊張で手が震えました。kin chō de te ga furu e ma shi ta

My hands shook from nervousness.

Core concept

Describes a body or object making small back-and-forth movements, often without deliberate control.

Common phrases

  • 体が震えるkarada ga furu e ru

    the body shakes

  • 手が震えるte ga furu e ru

    the hands shake

Similar words

揺れるyureru: To move repeatedly from side to side or up and down without staying still.
ぶるぶるするburuburusuru: To make small, repeated shaking movements, especially when cold, afraid, or nervous.

Definition in Japanese

寒さや恐れなどで、体や物が小刻みに揺れ動く。samu sa ya oso re na do de karada ya mono ga ko kiza mi ni yu re ugo ku

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 震える (furueru, "to shake") continues the older verb 震ふ (furuu, "to shake"), whose form changed in the history of Japanese.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 震える (furueru) covers both shivering from cold and trembling from fear, so the natural English choice depends on the cause and context.

Other meanings

  • trembleverb

Related words

Word lists with this word