Translation guide
The English word "shuffle" covers several distinct actions: walking without lifting feet, mixing cards, rearranging items, and moving with uncertainty. Japanese uses different verbs for each.
To walk by dragging or sliding the feet along the ground, often due to age, tiredness, or reluctance.
Literally 'walk with sliding feet'. This is the most direct and common way to describe shuffling along.
The old man shuffled down the hallway.
Means 'to drag one's feet'. Emphasizes the heavy, labored movement, often due to fatigue or injury.
Exhausted, I shuffled home, dragging my feet.
Describes the unsteady, shuffling walk of a toddler or someone weak. More about wobbling than sliding.
The baby started to shuffle around.
To randomize a deck of cards by interleaving or mixing them.
To change the order or position of things, often in a casual or random way.
Means 'to rearrange' or 'to sort in a different order'. Suitable for playlists, documents, etc.
I shuffled the songs in the playlist.
General verb for 'to mix'. Can be used for shuffling papers or items together, but implies a loss of order.
To jumble or mix up haphazardly. More casual and chaotic than 混ぜる.
To shift position, change direction, or act evasively, often due to nervousness or indecision.
Describes fidgeting or shuffling nervously, often when embarrassed or unsure.
He shuffled nervously as he answered the question.
To loiter or hang around without purpose, often moving in a small area. Implies aimless shuffling about.
Means 'to dodge' or 'to evade' a question or issue. Can be used for 'shuffle out of' a responsibility.
The loanword シャッフル is only used for mixing things like cards or music playlists. It is not used for the walking meaning. Use すり足 or 足を引きずる instead.
Both mean 'to shuffle cards'. 切る is the traditional Japanese term and is widely understood. シャッフルする is a modern loanword, very common among younger people and in casual contexts. In formal or traditional settings, 切る may be preferred.
Please shuffle the cards well before dealing.
書類を混ぜてしまって、順番がわからなくなった。
I shuffled the documents and lost the order.
Don't shuffle all the socks together.
I was shuffling around in front of the station and got stopped by the police.
彼は質問をうまくごまかした。
He shuffled out of the question skillfully.