揺(ゆ)れ

ゆれ
noun
shaking; swaying; vibration
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(おお)きな揺(ゆ)れを感(かん)じた。
I felt a strong tremor.
地震(じしん)の揺(ゆ)れは三十秒(さんじゅうびょう)ほど続(つづ)いた。
The earthquake shaking lasted about thirty seconds.
船(ふね)の揺(ゆ)れが激(はげ)しくて、気分(きぶん)が悪(わる)くなった。
The rocking of the boat was so intense that I started feeling sick.

Usage

In earthquake-prone Japan, 揺(ゆ)れ is a word heard frequently in news reports and emergency broadcasts. The intensity of shaking is described with adjectives like 大(おお)きい (big), 小(ちい)さい (small), 激(はげ)しい (violent), or 長(なが)い (long-lasting).

Common collocations

  • 縦(たて)揺(ゆ)れ (vertical shaking — in an earthquake)
  • 横(よこ)揺(ゆ)れ (horizontal shaking)
  • 揺(ゆ)れを感(かん)じる (to feel shaking)
  • 強(つよ)い揺(ゆ)れ (strong shaking)
  • 心(こころ)の揺(ゆ)れ (emotional wavering — figurative)

Related Words

Compare: ぶれ (shake, blur, wavering, inconsistency)
general
Added 2026.3.10 15:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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