Translation guide
To shrug is to raise your shoulders briefly to express doubt, ignorance, indifference, or helplessness. Japanese does not have a single verb that directly translates 'shrug'; instead, you describe the gesture or use phrases that convey the same attitude.
Describing the action of shrugging one's shoulders.
This is the most direct way to describe the physical act of shrugging. It literally means 'to narrow one's shoulders'.
彼は質問に答える代わりに、肩をすくめた。
Instead of answering the question, he shrugged his shoulders.
Literally 'to raise one's shoulders'. This can describe the motion but is less idiomatic than 肩をすくめる for the shrug gesture.
彼女は「わからない」と言いながら、肩を上げた。
She raised her shoulders while saying 'I don't know.'
Conveying the attitude of not knowing or being unsure, often accompanied by a shrug.
An interjection used when you don't know the answer, similar to 'well...' or 'who knows'. Often said with a shrug.
「明日の天気は？」「さあ、わからない。」
'What's the weather tomorrow?' 'Who knows, I don't know.'
Literally 'I don't know'. Can be used with a shrug to indicate ignorance, but may sound blunt if used alone.
彼は肩をすくめて「知らない」と言った。
He shrugged and said, 'I don't know.'
Means 'I don't understand' or 'I don't know'. Commonly used with a shrug.
なぜ彼が怒っているのか、わからない。
I don't know why he's angry. (with a shrug)
Showing that you don't care or it doesn't matter.
Means 'it doesn't matter' or 'whatever'. Often used with a shrug to show indifference.
彼は「どうでもいい」と言って肩をすくめた。
He shrugged and said, 'Whatever.'
A casual way to say 'nothing really' or 'not particularly'. Often used with a shrug to downplay something.
「何かあった？」「別に。」
'What's wrong?' 'Nothing.' (with a shrug)
Means 'oh well' or 'I guess it's fine'. Conveys a resigned shrug.
電車に乗り遅れたけど、まあいいか。
I missed the train, but oh well. (with a shrug)
Showing that you can't do anything about a situation.
Means 'it can't be helped' or 'there's no choice'. Often accompanied by a shrug.
雨が降ってきたけど、しょうがない。
It started raining, but it can't be helped. (with a shrug)
Synonym of しょうがない, slightly more formal. Means 'there's no way around it'.
There is no single Japanese verb that means 'to shrug'. Instead, describe the gesture (肩をすくめる) or use phrases that convey the attitude. Saying 'shrug' in English and expecting a direct translation will lead to confusion.
For natural Japanese, you can describe the shrug gesture and then add the spoken phrase, e.g., 肩をすくめて「さあ」と言った (He shrugged and said, 'Who knows').
彼は肩をすくめて「仕方ない」と言った。
He shrugged and said, 'It can't be helped.'