Translation guide
The English word 'shaking' can refer to a physical trembling of the body or objects, or to the act of shaking something. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is shaking, how it shakes, and the intensity. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these ideas.
Describing a person or body part that is trembling involuntarily.
The most common word for trembling, especially from cold, fear, or strong emotion. Can be used for the whole body or specific parts.
寒くて体が震えた。
I was so cold my body was shaking.
緊張で手が震えている。
My hands are shaking from nervousness.
To tremble violently, often from fear or cold. More intense than 震える.
彼は恐怖で震え上がった。
He was shaking with terror.
To shiver or shudder, often a sudden, involuntary whole-body shake. Can be from cold, fear, or disgust.
寒気がして身震いした。
A chill ran down my spine and I shuddered.
To tremble with a chattering or rattling sensation, often from extreme cold or fear. The onomatopoeia ガタガタ adds vividness.
寒さで歯がガタガタ震えた。
My teeth were chattering from the cold.
Describing the action of moving something back and forth or up and down, often with the hands.
The most general verb for shaking something. Used for shaking a bottle, a hand, a head (to say no), etc. Transitive verb.
ジュースをよく振ってから飲んでください。
Please shake the juice well before drinking.
彼は首を横に振った。
He shook his head (to indicate no).
To shake something back and forth, often with a rocking or jolting motion. Used for shaking a person awake, shaking a tree, etc.
To shake something vigorously, often with a swinging motion. More emphatic than 振る.
Describing something that is shaking or swaying on its own, often due to external force.
Intransitive verb for something that sways, shakes, or trembles. Used for earthquakes, buildings, hanging objects, etc.
地震で建物が大きく揺れた。
The building shook violently in the earthquake.
電車が揺れて、立っているのが大変だった。
The train was shaking so much it was hard to stand.
To vibrate or tremble, often used for mechanical vibrations or continuous shaking. More technical than 揺れる.
機械が震動してうるさい。
The machine is vibrating and noisy.
Onomatopoeic word for something that is wobbly or shaking unstably, like a loose tooth or a rickety table.
この机は脚がグラグラしている。
This desk's legs are wobbly/shaking.
The act of shaking hands as a greeting or agreement.
The standard phrase for shaking hands. Can be used in both formal and casual contexts.
彼らは固く握手した。
They shook hands firmly.
A slightly more formal or literary way to say 'exchange a handshake'.
両首脳は握手を交わした。
The two leaders shook hands.
The gesture of moving the head from side to side to mean 'no' or disagreement.
The standard expression for shaking one's head to indicate negation. Literally 'to shake the head sideways'.
彼は何も言わずに首を横に振った。
He shook his head without saying anything.
A shorter version, but can be ambiguous without context (could mean shaking head for other reasons). Usually implies negation.
彼女は首を振って拒否した。
She shook her head in refusal.
震える (furueru) is used for small, rapid, involuntary trembling, especially of living things or body parts. 揺れる (yureru) is used for larger, slower swaying or shaking of objects, structures, or vehicles. For earthquakes, use 揺れる. For shivering from cold, use 震える.
振る (furu) means to shake something deliberately. If you say 手を振る (te o furu), it means 'to wave one's hand' (like waving goodbye), not 'my hand is shaking'. For involuntary trembling, use 震える.
She shook him by the shoulder to wake him up.
犬がおもちゃを振り動かして遊んでいる。
The dog is playing by shaking the toy around.