わななく

わ

な

く

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

tremble; shiver; shake

usually written using kana alone

Describes trembling or shivering, often from fear, cold, or strong emotion. A somewhat literary or expressive word; in everyday speech, 震える (ふるえる) is more common.

恐きょう怖ふで全ぜん身しんがわななくのを感かんじた。
I felt my whole body tremble with fear.

寒さむさで唇くちびるがわなないていた。

My lips were shivering from the cold.

Written forms

わななくUsage96%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 戦慄く and 戦く are rare and may be unfamiliar to many readers.
戦慄わななくUsage4%
Rare kanji spelling; 戦慄 is also read せんりつ, meaning 'shudder' or 'tremble'.
戦わななく
Rare kanji spelling; can also be read おののく, a different verb with a similar meaning.

Kanji

戦war, battle, match
慄fear

Similar words

震ふるえる
The common, everyday word for 'tremble' or 'shiver'. わななく is more literary and less frequent.
戦せん慄りつ
A noun meaning 'shudder' or 'tremble', often used in the phrase 戦慄を覚える. Related to the kanji form 戦慄く.
おののく
Also means 'to tremble' (often with fear), and can be written with the same kanji 戦く. わななく is less common and has a slightly more literary feel.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the mimetic word わなわな (tremblingly), but the exact derivation is unclear.