Translation guide
The English verb "shake" covers a wide range of actions and meanings. This guide organizes them by the intended physical action or figurative meaning, then provides natural Japanese equivalents.
To move something quickly from side to side or up and down, often with your hand.
General verb for shaking something, especially with a swinging motion. Used for shaking hands, heads, bottles, etc.
Please shake the bottle well.
He shook his head.
To shake something back and forth, often with a pushing/pulling motion. Used for shaking a person awake, shaking a tree, etc.
He shook me by the shoulder to wake me up.
To shake or swing something around wildly. Often implies a lack of control.
The dog is shaking the toy around.
To move a part of the body quickly, often as a gesture.
Used for shaking head, hands, etc. For shaking head 'no', 首を横に振る is common.
He waved his hand and said goodbye.
She shook her head (to indicate no).
Specifically for shaking one's head. Can be used for both denial and general head shaking.
He shook his head sadly.
To shake one's fist (in anger). Literally 'swing one's fist around'.
He shook his fist in anger.
To clasp and move someone's hand up and down as a greeting or agreement.
To tremble or quiver involuntarily due to cold, fear, excitement, etc.
General verb for trembling or shivering, often from cold, fear, or strong emotion.
My body shook from the cold.
Similar to 震える, but often used for more intense or violent shaking, or in literary contexts.
Onomatopoeic expression for chattering or shaking, especially from cold or fear.
I was so cold my teeth were chattering.
To agitate a container to mix its contents.
To disturb or weaken someone's mental state, belief, or determination.
To shake or rock something figuratively, such as confidence, belief, or a system. Often used in the passive form 揺るがされる.
The incident shook his beliefs.
To disturb or unsettle someone emotionally. Often used for shaking someone's composure.
The news shook her (emotionally).
To cause something to waver or become unstable, often used for resolve or confidence.
His resolve was not shaken.
To remove something by shaking, or to escape from someone/something.
To move back and forth or up and down rapidly, often due to external force like an earthquake.
振る (furu) is transitive: you shake something. 揺する (yusuru) is also transitive but implies a back-and-forth motion, often with more force. 揺れる (yureru) is intransitive: something shakes on its own or due to external force (like an earthquake).
When talking about shaking from cold or fear, use 震える (furueru), not 振る (furu). 振る implies a deliberate action, while 震える is involuntary.
The common gesture for 'no' is 首を横に振る (kubi o yoko ni furu), literally 'shake head sideways'. Simply 首を振る can also mean shaking head in disbelief or sadness.
Shake well before use.
He shook his head in disbelief.
The earthquake shook the entire city.
彼は私の手を握って「ありがとう」と言った。
He shook my hand and said 'thank you'.
She was shaking with fear.
His whole body shook with anger.
She tried to shake off her anxiety.
He shook off the tail.