1.
shaking; swaying; vibration; tremor
The act or sensation of something shaking or swaying back and forth. Most commonly associated with earthquakes in Japanese daily life. From the verb 揺れる (to shake). Can also describe the swaying of a boat, building, or even emotional wavering.
大きな揺れを感じた。
I felt a strong tremor.
地震の揺れは三十秒ほど続いた。
The earthquake shaking lasted about thirty seconds.
船の揺れが激しくて、気分が悪くなった。
The rocking of the boat was so intense that I started feeling sick.
USAGE:
In earthquake-prone Japan, 揺れ is a word heard frequently in news reports and emergency broadcasts. The intensity of shaking is described with adjectives like 大きい (big), 小さい (small), 激しい (violent), or 長い (long-lasting).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 縦揺れ (vertical shaking — in an earthquake)
- 横揺れ (horizontal shaking)
- 揺れを感じる (to feel shaking)
- 強い揺れ (strong shaking)
- 心の揺れ (emotional wavering — figurative)