Translation guide
The English word "recoil" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers physical spring-back, emotional shock, gun kickback, and figurative retreat. Japanese uses different words and expressions for each.
To suddenly move back after hitting something or being released, like a spring or elastic.
Intransitive verb meaning to rebound or spring back. Used for balls, springs, etc.
The ball hit the wall and recoiled.
Phrase meaning to return due to reaction force. More technical.
The spring recoils.
To suddenly feel shocked, disgusted, or horrified and pull back mentally or physically.
Intransitive verb meaning to flinch, shrink back, or be daunted. Often used for fear or intimidation.
He recoiled at the horrific sight.
Intransitive verb meaning to recoil, flinch, or stagger back, often from surprise or shock.
Phrase meaning to shudder or feel a chill, often from disgust or fear. Describes the feeling rather than physical movement.
I recoiled when I heard the cruel story.
Verb meaning to step back or retreat, often from fear or revulsion. More literal physical movement.
He recoiled from the smell.
The backward movement of a gun when fired.
To have an unexpected negative effect on the originator; backfire.
Both mean to flinch or recoil from fear or shock. ひるむ is more about being daunted or losing nerve, while たじろぐ often implies a physical stagger or step back. ひるむ is more common in everyday speech.
English 'recoil' in emotional contexts is often translated as ひるむ or たじろぐ, not a direct physical recoil word. Using 跳ね返る for emotional shock would be unnatural.
彼女は突然の非難にたじろいだ。
She recoiled at the sudden accusation.
The rifle's recoil jarred my shoulder.
The criticism recoiled on him.
Noun meaning a retaliatory blow or backfiring; getting paid back for a bad deed.
His insults recoiled on him.