よろける

よろける
verb (ichidan)
to stumble; to stagger; to totter; to lose one's balance
自動詞 intransitivemovement
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Presentよろけるよろけない
Present politeよろけますよろけません
Pastよろけたよろけなかった
Past politeよろけましたよろけませんでした
て formよろけてよろけなくて
ている presentよろけているよろけていない
ている politeよろけていますよろけていません
ている pastよろけていたよろけていなかった
ている past politeよろけていましたよろけていませんでした
Conditional ばよろければよろけなければ
Conditional たらよろけたらよろけなかったら
Volitionalよろけよう
Volitional politeよろけましょう
Potentialよろけられるよろけられない
Passiveよろけられるよろけられない
Causativeよろけさせるよろけさせない
Imperativeよろけろよろけるな
1. to stumble; to stagger; to totter; to lose one's balance
To suddenly lose one's balance and lurch to the side, typically as a momentary event caused by tripping, being pushed, or a sudden movement.
I tripped on a stone and stumbled.
強風(きょうふう)よろけそうになった。
The strong wind almost knocked me off balance.
When the brakes were suddenly applied on the packed train, all the passengers staggered at once.

Describes the sudden loss of balance causing someone to stumble or totter. Unlike ふらつく which implies ongoing unsteadiness, よろける describes a momentary event — a sudden stumble or lurch.

Usage

  • Describes a brief, involuntary loss of balance
  • Can be caused by external forces (wind, collision, sudden stops) or internal (tripping, weakness)
  • The related form よろめく has the same physical meaning but also has a figurative sense of being tempted romantically

Common collocations

Similar words

  • よろめく: to stumble, totter — also means to be tempted (romantically); slightly more literary
  • ふらつく: to sway, stagger — implies continuous unsteadiness rather than a single moment
  • つまずく: to trip, stumble — specifically about catching one's foot on something
  • たたら(): to stagger forward trying to regain balance — vivid and specific