うねり
うねり
noun
swell; surge; undulation
1.
swell; surge; undulation
large, rolling waves on the ocean, or any wave-like rolling movement
海のうねりが大きい。
The ocean swell is large.
台風の影響で強いうねりが続いている。
Strong swells continue due to the influence of the typhoon.
うねりが高いので、今日は海水浴は危険です。
The swell is high, so swimming in the sea is dangerous today.
2.
groundswell; surge; growing momentum
a large-scale movement or trend that builds power, used figuratively for social or political movements
改革のうねりが起きている。
A groundswell of reform is rising.
市民運動の大きなうねりが政治を動かした。
The great surge of the citizens' movement moved politics.
時代のうねりの中で、企業も変革を迫られている。
In the surge of the times, companies are also being pressured to transform.
The noun form of the verb うねる (to undulate, to surge). In the literal sense, refers specifically to ocean swells — the deep rolling waves distinct from surface wind waves. The figurative sense is common in news and political commentary.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- うねりが高い: the swell is high
- うねりが強い: the swell is strong
- 大きなうねり: a large swell/surge
- うねりを上げる: to raise a surge (figurative)
- 時代のうねり: the surge/momentum of the era
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 波: wave — general term for waves, while うねり specifically means deep, rolling swells
- 潮流: current, trend — emphasizes direction rather than building power
- 高波: high waves — dangerous surface waves, distinct from deep swells
- 流れ: flow, trend — gentler and more sustained than the building momentum of うねり
RELATED FORMS:
- うねる (verb): to undulate, to wind, to surge
- うねうね: onomatopoeia for winding/undulating movement