Translation guide
The English word 'shuffling' can refer to a way of walking, mixing cards, or rearranging things. This guide covers the most common Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To walk without lifting feet properly, often due to tiredness, age, or slippers.
Literally 'walk dragging one's feet'. This is the most direct and natural way to describe shuffling.
疲れて足を引きずって歩いていた。
I was so tired I was shuffling along.
To randomize a deck of cards before a game.
Loanword from English, used as a suru-verb. The most common way to say 'shuffle cards'.
トランプをシャッフルしてください。
Please shuffle the cards.
To change the order of things, like papers, songs, or files.
Also used for digital shuffling, like playlists. Very common.
プレイリストをシャッフル再生する。
To play the playlist on shuffle.
Noun meaning 'shuffling walk' or 'sliding feet'. Often used in contexts like martial arts or when wearing slippers.
すり足で歩く音が聞こえた。
I heard the sound of shuffling footsteps.
Similar to 足を引きずって歩く, but emphasizes the scraping sound. Less common.
スリッパで足を擦って歩く。
To shuffle along in slippers.
Traditional Japanese verb for shuffling cards, literally 'cut'. Often used in compound with 混ぜる (まぜる).
カードをよく切ってください。
Please shuffle the cards well.
Literally 'mix and cut', a more descriptive phrase for shuffling. Less common than シャッフルする or 切る alone.
カードを混ぜて切る。
To shuffle the cards (by mixing and cutting).
Means 'to rearrange' or 'to sort in a different order'. More formal than シャッフル.
書類の順番を並べ替えた。
I shuffled the order of the documents.