Translation guide
A tremor is a slight, involuntary shaking movement. In Japanese, the most common word is 震え (furue), but the best choice depends on what is shaking (body, hands, voice, ground) and the cause (cold, fear, illness, earthquake).
The general physical sensation or visible shaking of a person's body, hands, legs, etc., often due to cold, fear, nervousness, or physical weakness.
The most common and general word for a tremor or trembling of the body. It can be used for shivering from cold, trembling from fear, or shaking from weakness.
寒さで体の震えが止まらない。
I can't stop my body's trembling from the cold.
緊張で手に震えが出た。
My hands started trembling from nervousness.
Specifically a full-body shiver or shudder, often a brief, involuntary reaction to cold, fear, or disgust.
あまりの寒さに身震いした。
I shivered from the intense cold.
その話を聞いて身震いが走った。
A shudder ran through me when I heard that story.
A strong shudder or shiver, often from intense fear, horror, or awe. More literary and dramatic than 震え.
戦慄が背筋を走った。
A shudder ran down my spine.
A medical symptom of involuntary rhythmic shaking, often in the hands, such as essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor.
The medical term for tremor as a symptom. Used in clinical contexts.
本態性振戦と診断された。
I was diagnosed with essential tremor.
手の振戦がひどくなってきた。
The tremor in my hands has gotten worse.
The everyday way to say 'hand tremor'. It can refer to medical tremors or temporary shaking from nerves or fatigue.
歳のせいか、手の震えが気になる。
Maybe it's because of age, but I'm bothered by the tremor in my hands.
A quavering or unsteady quality in the voice, often from emotion.
The standard way to describe a tremor in the voice.
彼女の声の震えで、緊張しているのがわかった。
I could tell she was nervous from the tremor in her voice.
A compound noun meaning 'trembling voice'. Often used when someone is on the verge of tears or very frightened.
彼は震え声で助けを求めた。
He asked for help in a trembling voice.
A small earthquake or a slight shaking of the ground.
A slight earthquake or tremor. Used in weather reports and news.
先ほど微震がありました。
There was a slight tremor just now.
A more casual, everyday way to say 'small tremor' or 'slight shaking'.
さっき小さな揺れを感じた。
I felt a small tremor earlier.
震え (furue) is the general word for trembling. 身震い (miburui) is a full-body shiver, often a single involuntary reaction. 戦慄 (senritsu) is a strong shudder from fear or horror, and is more literary.
While 震え can refer to shaking in general, for earthquakes it's more natural to use 揺れ (yure) or 地震 (jishin). 微震 (bishin) is the specific term for a small earthquake tremor.