Translation guide
Describes an action or state that is not firm, stable, or balanced. Covers physical movement (walking, standing), emotional states, and figurative instability.
Describes walking, standing, or moving in a shaky, wobbly, or unbalanced way.
An onomatopoeic adverb describing unsteady movement, often due to dizziness, weakness, or intoxication. Very common and natural.
彼は疲れてふらふら歩いていた。
He was walking unsteadily from exhaustion.
お酒を飲みすぎてふらふらになった。
I drank too much and became unsteady on my feet.
Onomatopoeic adverb for staggering or tottering, often implying near-falling. Used for weak legs, injury, or exhaustion.
赤ちゃんがよろよろと歩き始めた。
The baby started walking unsteadily.
彼はけがをした足でよろよろと立ち上がった。
He stood up unsteadily on his injured leg.
Onomatopoeic adverb for wobbling or shaking, often used for objects that are unstable (e.g., a loose tooth, a wobbly table). Can describe a person's unsteady stance.
机がぐらぐらして書きにくい。
The desk is wobbly and hard to write on.
地震で立っているのがやっとで、ぐらぐらした。
I could barely stand during the earthquake and was unsteady.
An adjective meaning unsteady, uncertain, or faltering. Often used for walking, steps, or speech. Slightly formal/literary.
老人はおぼつかない足取りで道を渡った。
The old man crossed the street with unsteady steps.
Describes a person's emotional state or mental composure that is shaky, unstable, or wavering.
A noun/adjective meaning unstable, insecure, or unsteady. Used for emotional states, mental health, or situations.
彼女は最近情緒が不安定だ。
She has been emotionally unsteady lately.
不安定な精神状態で仕事を続けるのは難しい。
It's hard to keep working with an unsteady mental state.
A verb phrase meaning to be shaken, agitated, or unsteady emotionally. Often used for temporary disturbance.
彼はその知らせに動揺して、声が震えていた。
He was unsteadied by the news and his voice trembled.
A phrase meaning one's heart/mind wavers or is unsteady. Used for indecision or emotional conflict.
二つの選択肢の間で心が揺れた。
My heart wavered unsteadily between the two options.
Describes hands that tremble or a voice that shakes, often due to nervousness, age, or emotion.
A verb meaning to tremble, shake, or quiver. Used for hands, voice, body. Very common.
緊張で手が震えて、字がうまく書けなかった。
My hands were shaking unsteadily from nerves and I couldn't write properly.
彼の声は震えていた。
His voice was unsteady (trembling).
Onomatopoeic adverb for jerky, shaky movement, often used for hands or mechanical movements.
Describes inconsistent, fluctuating, or unreliable progress, growth, or performance.
Same word as above, but used for abstract instability like economic growth, internet connection, or performance.
経済の成長が不安定だ。
Economic growth is unsteady.
彼の成績は不安定で、良い時と悪い時の差が激しい。
His grades are unsteady, with big swings between good and bad.
A phrase meaning to be uneven, spotty, or inconsistent. Used for skills, effort, or quality.
彼のプレーにはむらがある。
His performance is unsteady (inconsistent).
ふらふら suggests lightheadedness or dizziness; よろよろ suggests weakness in legs and near-falling; ぐらぐら suggests wobbling instability of an object or a person's stance.
熱でふらふらする。
I feel dizzy and unsteady from fever.
お年寄りがよろよろとバスに乗った。
The elderly person got on the bus unsteadily.
台風で電柱がぐらぐら揺れている。
The utility pole is wobbling unsteadily in the typhoon.
My hands are shaking unsteadily from the cold and I can't button up.