Translation guide
Describes unsteady movement, often due to weakness, age, or instability. Covers physical staggering, wobbling objects, and figurative instability.
The old man tottered across the room.
To move in a weak or unsteady way, as if about to fall, typically due to age, exhaustion, or injury.
Common mimetic word for staggering or tottering while walking. Often used for the elderly, drunk people, or those weakened.
The old man is tottering along.
Mimetic word for walking unsteadily, often from dizziness, intoxication, or exhaustion. Slightly more 'wobbly' than よろよろ.
I'm tottering around with a fever.
Mimetic word for tottering or staggering, often implying clumsiness or weakness. Similar to よろよろ but can sound more awkward.
The drunk is tottering along.
Literary or formal verb meaning to stagger or totter. Rare in everyday speech.
To sway or wobble as if about to collapse, used for buildings, piles of objects, etc.
Mimetic word for wobbling or shaking unstably, often used for unstable objects like a loose tooth or a shaky table.
The tower is tottering.
Phrase meaning 'looks like it's about to fall over'. Natural way to describe a tottering object.
Verb for wobbling or being unsteady, more often used for people but can apply to objects in a figurative sense.
To be on the verge of collapse or failure, used for institutions, regimes, or abstract things.
Means 'on the verge of collapse'. Common for describing failing governments, companies, or systems.
The regime is tottering.
Idiom meaning 'a candle before the wind', i.e., in a precarious state. Poetic way to say tottering.
The company is tottering.
Verb meaning to wobble or be shaky, used figuratively for unstable positions or foundations.
All three are mimetic adverbs for unsteady walking. よろよろ emphasizes weakness and is common for the elderly or sick. ふらふら suggests dizziness or lightheadedness, often from fever or intoxication. よたよた implies clumsiness or awkward staggering, often used for drunks or toddlers.
よろめく is a literary or formal word for staggering. In everyday conversation, use mimetic adverbs like よろよろ or ふらふら with 歩く.
老人が蹌踉めきながら道を渡った。
The old man tottered across the street.
The blocks are tottering.
机がふらついている。
The desk is tottering.
彼の立場がぐらついている。
His position is tottering.