Translation guide
The English phrase "choke up" has two main meanings: (1) to become too emotional to speak, and (2) to grip something higher up. This guide focuses on the emotional meaning, which is the most common and useful for learners, and briefly covers the physical meaning.
Expressing that someone is so moved, sad, or overwhelmed that they have difficulty speaking or their voice breaks.
I choked up during my speech. · She choked up when she saw the surprise. · He choked up trying to say goodbye.
Literally 'to get stuck on words'. This is the most direct and common way to say someone chokes up from emotion. It can be used in both formal and casual contexts.
感謝の気持ちを伝えようとして、言葉に詰まってしまった。
I choked up when I tried to express my gratitude.
Physically moving one's hand(s) to a higher position on an object, such as a bat, tool, or rope.
Literally 'to re-grip'. This is a general term for adjusting one's grip, including moving the hand higher. It's used in sports and tool use.
バットを握り直して、打席に入った。
He choked up on the bat and stepped into the batter's box.
Do not translate "choke up" literally as 窒息する (to suffocate) or むせる (to choke on food/drink). These have completely different meanings and will cause confusion.
言葉に詰まる focuses on the inability to produce words, while 喉が詰まる focuses on the physical sensation in the throat. Both can be used for emotional choking up, but 言葉に詰まる is more common and versatile.
She choked up during her farewell speech.
Literally 'one's chest becomes warm'. This describes the feeling of being deeply moved, often to the point of tears or being unable to speak. It emphasizes the emotional warmth rather than the speech difficulty.
卒業式で胸が熱くなって、うまく話せなかった。
I got choked up at the graduation ceremony and couldn't speak well.
Literally 'one's throat gets blocked'. This is a more physical description of the sensation of choking up, often used when someone is holding back tears.
感動で喉が詰まって、声が出なかった。
I was so moved that I choked up and couldn't speak.
Literally 'one's voice trembles'. This focuses on the audible effect of choking up, where the voice becomes shaky. It's often used when someone is trying to speak through strong emotion.
彼は声を震わせながら、感謝の言葉を述べた。
He choked up as he gave his thanks, his voice trembling.
Literally 'to grip above/upward'. This explicitly describes moving the grip higher. It's straightforward but less idiomatic than 握り直す.
ロープをもっと上に握ってください。
Please choke up on the rope a bit more.
Literally 'to hold short'. This is a baseball-specific term meaning to choke up on the bat, i.e., to hold it higher up the handle, making the bat effectively shorter for better control.
彼はバットを短く持って、確実に当てようとした。
He choked up on the bat to make sure he made contact.