Translation guide
Describes physical wriggling movements, often from discomfort, embarrassment, or impatience, as well as the emotional state of feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable.
To move the body with twisting, wriggling motions, often due to discomfort, restlessness, or trying to escape a hold.
Literally 'twist one's body'. Used for physical squirming, such as when in pain, trying to get free, or feeling uncomfortable.
The child squirmed to get out of the hug.
To experience a feeling of embarrassment, shame, or awkwardness that makes one want to shrink away or fidget.
Literally 'writhe from embarrassment'. Captures the physical reaction to strong embarrassment.
身をよじる implies a more deliberate twisting of the body, often to escape or due to pain. もぞもぞする describes small, restless, often unconscious movements like fidgeting.
Avoid directly translating 'squirm' as 身もだえする in all contexts. 身もだえする often implies writhing in agony or ecstasy, which can sound overly dramatic for mild embarrassment.
An onomatopoeic verb describing small, restless movements, like fidgeting or squirming in one's seat.
He was squirming in his seat out of boredom.
Describes writhing or squirming in agony, often used for intense pain or dramatic struggling.
He squirmed in agony.
Listening to his speech, I squirmed with embarrassment.
Means 'feel uncomfortable' or 'ill at ease'. Often used for social awkwardness that makes one squirm internally.
His question made me squirm.
An onomatopoeic word for an itchy, restless feeling, sometimes used metaphorically for the urge to squirm from embarrassment or impatience.
I squirmed at his boasting.