Translation guide
Describes moving in an unsteady, wobbling way, as if about to fall. In Japanese, this is usually expressed with adverbs or mimetic words that describe shaky, staggering motion.
To describe someone walking in a wobbly, unstable manner, often due to age, injury, or intoxication.
A mimetic adverb describing unsteady, tottering movement, often used for someone weak, drunk, or dizzy.
The old man is walking totteringly.
A mimetic adverb for swaying or staggering, often from dizziness, exhaustion, or intoxication.
He stood up totteringly with a fever.
A mimetic adverb for tottering or staggering, often with a nuance of clumsiness or weakness.
The drunkard crossed the street totteringly.
A mimetic adverb for the unsteady, tottering walk of a toddler.
The baby started walking totteringly.
To describe someone getting up or standing in a wobbly, unstable way.
A common phrase using the mimetic adverb よろよろ to describe rising totteringly.
He stood up totteringly.
Uses ふらふら to emphasize dizziness or lack of balance while rising.
To describe an object or structure that wobbles or seems about to collapse.
よろよろ emphasizes weakness and unsteadiness, often from age or exhaustion. ふらふら focuses on dizziness or lightheadedness. よたよた suggests a clumsy, staggering gait, often from intoxication or extreme fatigue.
An elderly person walks totteringly.
I feel dizzy and tottering.
A drunkard walks totteringly.
She stood up totteringly and put her hand on the wall.
古い机ががたがたしている。
The old desk is tottering.