Translation guide
Describes an action or state that is not firm, stable, or balanced. Covers physical movement (walking, standing), emotional states, and figurative instability.
Describes walking, standing, or moving in a shaky, wobbly, or unbalanced way.
An onomatopoeic adverb describing unsteady movement, often due to dizziness, weakness, or intoxication. Very common and natural.
He was walking unsteadily from exhaustion.
I drank too much and became unsteady on my feet.
Onomatopoeic adverb for staggering or tottering, often implying near-falling. Used for weak legs, injury, or exhaustion.
The baby started walking unsteadily.
He stood up unsteadily on his injured leg.
Onomatopoeic adverb for wobbling or shaking, often used for objects that are unstable (e.g., a loose tooth, a wobbly table). Can describe a person's unsteady stance.
The desk is wobbly and hard to write on.
I could barely stand during the earthquake and was unsteady.
An adjective meaning unsteady, uncertain, or faltering. Often used for walking, steps, or speech. Slightly formal/literary.
The old man crossed the street with unsteady steps.
Describes a person's emotional state or mental composure that is shaky, unstable, or wavering.
A noun/adjective meaning unstable, insecure, or unsteady. Used for emotional states, mental health, or situations.
She has been emotionally unsteady lately.
A verb phrase meaning to be shaken, agitated, or unsteady emotionally. Often used for temporary disturbance.
A phrase meaning one's heart/mind wavers or is unsteady. Used for indecision or emotional conflict.
Describes hands that tremble or a voice that shakes, often due to nervousness, age, or emotion.
A verb meaning to tremble, shake, or quiver. Used for hands, voice, body. Very common.
My hands were shaking unsteadily from nerves and I couldn't write properly.
Onomatopoeic adverb for jerky, shaky movement, often used for hands or mechanical movements.
Describes inconsistent, fluctuating, or unreliable progress, growth, or performance.
Same word as above, but used for abstract instability like economic growth, internet connection, or performance.
Economic growth is unsteady.
A phrase meaning to be uneven, spotty, or inconsistent. Used for skills, effort, or quality.
His performance is unsteady (inconsistent).
ふらふら suggests lightheadedness or dizziness; よろよろ suggests weakness in legs and near-falling; ぐらぐら suggests wobbling instability of an object or a person's stance.
I feel dizzy and unsteady from fever.
The elderly person got on the bus unsteadily.
The utility pole is wobbling unsteadily in the typhoon.
It's hard to keep working with an unsteady mental state.
He was unsteadied by the news and his voice trembled.
My heart wavered unsteadily between the two options.
His voice was unsteady (trembling).
My hands are shaking unsteadily from the cold and I can't button up.
His grades are unsteady, with big swings between good and bad.