すくむ
すくむ
verb (godan)
to freeze; to cower; to be paralyzed (with fear)
1.
to freeze, to cower, to be paralyzed with fear
To become unable to move or act due to fear, shock, or nervousness. The body stiffens and one cannot take action.
恐怖で足がすくんだ。
My legs froze with fear.
大きな犬に吠えられて体がすくんだ。
A big dog barked at me and I froze up.
高いところから下を見たら、足がすくんで一歩も動けなくなった。
When I looked down from the high place, my legs went weak and I couldn't move a single step.
CONJUGATION:
- すくまない（否定）
- すくみます（丁寧）
- すくんで（て形）
- すくんだ（過去）
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 足がすくむ: one's legs freeze/give way (most common)
- 体がすくむ: one's body freezes
- 恐怖ですくむ: to freeze with fear
PAIR: すくむ（自動詞）↔ すくめる（他動詞）= to shrug, to hunch (as in 肩をすくめる)
USAGE: Most commonly used in the pattern 足がすくむ to describe being unable to move due to fear, especially of heights.