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狼狽 (ろうばい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
confusion ; dismay ; consternation ; panic
Describes a state of being flustered, upset, or thrown into confusion, often due to an unexpected event. Used as a noun or with する to mean 'to be flustered/panic'.
I couldn't hide my dismay.
Similar words 慌あわ てる 慌てる is a more common, everyday verb for 'to panic' or 'to be in a hurry', while 狼狽 is a more formal or literary term for being deeply disconcerted or dismayed.
動どう 揺よう 動揺 can mean 'agitation' or 'unrest' and is often used for emotional disturbance or physical shaking, whereas 狼狽 specifically implies confusion and loss of composure.
Etymology The kanji 狼 (wolf) and 狽 (a mythical wolf-like creature) together originally referred to two animals that were said to panic when separated, hence the meaning of confusion or dismay. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with this meaning.
