1.
to stagnate (water)
for water or liquid to become stagnant; to stop flowing
池の水が淀んでいる。
The water in the pond is stagnant.
部屋の空気が淀んでいる。
The air in the room is stale.
窓を開けて淀んだ空気を入れ替えよう。
Let's open the window and get some fresh air to replace the stale air.
2.
to falter
for speech to hesitate or falter; for movement or progress to slow or stall
彼の返事が淀んだ。
His reply faltered.
会話が淀むことなく続いた。
The conversation continued without a pause.
難しい質問をされて言葉が淀んだ。
My words faltered when asked a difficult question.
淀む is an intransitive godan verb with both literal (stagnant water) and figurative (hesitant speech) meanings.
TRANSITIVITY: Intransitive (自動詞).
SENSE 1 - STAGNATION:
- Describes water, air, or other fluids that stop moving and become stale
- Can also describe a general atmosphere of stagnation
SENSE 2 - HESITATION:
- Used for speech or actions that become hesitant or faltering
- Often indicates uncertainty or reluctance
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 水が淀む (water stagnates)
- 空気が淀む (air becomes stale)
- 言葉が淀む (words falter)
- 淀みなく (without hesitation, fluently)
RELATED FORM:
- 淀み: Noun form meaning "stagnation" or "hesitation"
- 淀みなく: Adverb meaning "fluently, without pause"
REGISTER: Neutral to slightly literary.