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道Nihongo Path

揺らぐ

ゆらぐ

to sway; to waver; to be shaken (of trust, resolve)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 風でろうそくの炎が揺らいだ。

    かぜでろうそくのほのおがゆらいだ。

    The candle flame wavered in the draught.

  2. 彼の決意は少しも揺らがなかった。

    かれのけついはすこしもゆらがなかった。

    His resolve did not waver in the slightest.

  3. 相次ぐ不祥事で、会社への信頼が揺らいでいる。

    あいつぐふしょうじで、かいしゃへのしんらいがゆらいでいる。

    With one scandal after another, trust in the company is being shaken.

Common patterns

信頼が揺らぐ
trust is shaken
決意が揺らぐ
one's resolve wavers
地位が揺らぐ
one's position becomes unsteady

Memory tip

Intransitive, and at N1 usually figurative: confidence, trust or a position wavers. 揺れる is the plain physical shaking, and the transitive partner is 揺るがす "to shake something".

Kanji in this word

Quick check

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What does 揺らぐ mean?