ふらつく

ふらつく
verb (godan)
to stagger; to sway; to be unsteady on one's feet; to wander aimlessly; to drift around
自動詞 intransitivemovement
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentふらつくふらつかない
Present politeふらつきますふらつきません
Pastふらついたふらつかなかった
Past politeふらつきましたふらつきませんでした
て formふらついてふらつかなくて
ている presentふらついているふらついていない
ている politeふらついていますふらついていません
ている pastふらついていたふらついていなかった
ている past politeふらついていましたふらついていませんでした
Conditional ばふらつけばふらつかなければ
Conditional たらふらついたらふらつかなかったら
Volitionalふらつこう
Volitional politeふらつきましょう
Potentialふらつけるふらつけない
Passiveふらつかれるふらつかれない
Causativeふらつかせるふらつかせない
Imperativeふらつけふらつくな
1. to stagger; to sway; to be unsteady on one's feet
To move unsteadily as if about to fall, typically due to dizziness, illness, fatigue, or intoxication.
()()がったら()まいふらついた。
When I stood up, I felt dizzy and swayed.
My legs are unsteady from anemia.
I drank too much and staggered home.
2. to wander aimlessly; to drift around
To move from place to place without a clear purpose or destination, often implying an unsettled or irresponsible lifestyle.
仕事(しごと)せずふらついている
He's drifting around without working.
I spent my day off wandering around town.
I hear that person hangs around the entertainment district every night.

Related to the mimetic base ふら (swaying, unsteady). Has both a physical sense (swaying/staggering) and a behavioral sense (wandering aimlessly).

Usage

  • Sense 1 describes physical unsteadiness — from dizziness, intoxication, fatigue, or illness
  • Sense 2 implies aimlessness and often carries a slightly negative connotation (being idle or irresponsible)
  • The noun form ふらつき means dizziness or unsteadiness

Common collocations

Similar words

  • よろめく: to stumble, totter — more about losing balance momentarily
  • よろける: to stagger — similar to よろめく; implies stumbling
  • ふらふらする: to feel faint; to sway — very similar but more casual/onomatopoeic
  • 彷徨(さまよ)う: to wander, roam — more literary; suggests being lost