1.
shudder; shiver; trembling
An involuntary trembling of the body caused by cold, fear, excitement, or strong emotion. Can describe both physical shivering and an emotional response.
寒さで身震いした。
I shivered from the cold.
恐ろしい話を聞いて身震いした。
I shuddered upon hearing the terrifying story.
初めてオーケストラの生演奏を聴いたとき、感動で身震いするほどだった。
When I heard a live orchestra for the first time, I was so moved that I shuddered.
Compound of 身 (body) + 震い (shaking), with rendaku changing ふ to ぶ. Functions as both a noun and a する verb.
Unlike 震える (to tremble), which describes sustained shaking, 身震い typically refers to a sudden, involuntary shudder — a brief whole-body reaction.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 身震いする (to shudder)
- 身震いがする (to feel a shudder)
- 身震いするほど (enough to make one shudder)
- 恐怖で身震いする (to shudder with fear)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 震える: to tremble, to shake (sustained trembling)
- 鳥肌: goosebumps (a related physical reaction)
- 武者震い: trembling with excitement before action (anticipatory)