Translation guide
The English word 'shaking' can refer to a physical trembling of the body or objects, or to the act of shaking something. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is shaking, how it shakes, and the intensity. This guide covers the most common and natural ways to express these ideas.
Describing a person or body part that is trembling involuntarily.
The most common word for trembling, especially from cold, fear, or strong emotion. Can be used for the whole body or specific parts.
I was so cold my body was shaking.
My hands are shaking from nervousness.
To tremble violently, often from fear or cold. More intense than 震える.
He was shaking with terror.
To shiver or shudder, often a sudden, involuntary whole-body shake. Can be from cold, fear, or disgust.
A chill ran down my spine and I shuddered.
To tremble with a chattering or rattling sensation, often from extreme cold or fear. The onomatopoeia ガタガタ adds vividness.
My teeth were chattering from the cold.
Describing the action of moving something back and forth or up and down, often with the hands.
The most general verb for shaking something. Used for shaking a bottle, a hand, a head (to say no), etc. Transitive verb.
Please shake the juice well before drinking.
He shook his head (to indicate no).
To shake something back and forth, often with a rocking or jolting motion. Used for shaking a person awake, shaking a tree, etc.
To shake something vigorously, often with a swinging motion. More emphatic than 振る.
Describing something that is shaking or swaying on its own, often due to external force.
Intransitive verb for something that sways, shakes, or trembles. Used for earthquakes, buildings, hanging objects, etc.
The building shook violently in the earthquake.
The train was shaking so much it was hard to stand.
To vibrate or tremble, often used for mechanical vibrations or continuous shaking. More technical than 揺れる.
The machine is vibrating and noisy.
Onomatopoeic word for something that is wobbly or shaking unstably, like a loose tooth or a rickety table.
This desk's legs are wobbly/shaking.
The act of shaking hands as a greeting or agreement.
The gesture of moving the head from side to side to mean 'no' or disagreement.
The standard expression for shaking one's head to indicate negation. Literally 'to shake the head sideways'.
He shook his head without saying anything.
A shorter version, but can be ambiguous without context (could mean shaking head for other reasons). Usually implies negation.
She shook her head in refusal.
震える (furueru) is used for small, rapid, involuntary trembling, especially of living things or body parts. 揺れる (yureru) is used for larger, slower swaying or shaking of objects, structures, or vehicles. For earthquakes, use 揺れる. For shivering from cold, use 震える.
振る (furu) means to shake something deliberately. If you say 手を振る (te o furu), it means 'to wave one's hand' (like waving goodbye), not 'my hand is shaking'. For involuntary trembling, use 震える.
She shook him by the shoulder to wake him up.
The dog is playing by shaking the toy around.