Translation guide
To twist or contort the body, often due to pain, discomfort, or strong emotion. In Japanese, different words capture writhing from physical pain, emotional agony, or squirming from embarrassment or tickling.
To twist the body uncontrollably because of severe pain or physical distress.
General term for struggling or writhing, often from pain, restraint, or desperation. Can also mean flailing or thrashing about.
彼は痛みでもがいた。
He writhed in pain.
けがをした動物が地面でもがいていた。
The injured animal was writhing on the ground.
Literally 'body twisting', used for writhing in agony or ecstasy. Slightly more literary or dramatic than もがく.
彼は苦痛に身もだえした。
He writhed in agony.
Vivid expression for rolling around in pain, often used for intense suffering. Conveys a more violent, uncontrolled movement.
腹痛でのたうち回った。
I writhed around with a stomachache.
To twist or contort the body as a reaction to intense emotional pain, such as grief, shame, or despair.
Also used for emotional torment, suggesting inner turmoil manifesting physically.
彼女は恥ずかしさに身もだえした。
She writhed with embarrassment.
To writhe in anguish, often emotional or psychological. Can also imply yearning or longing. Somewhat literary.
彼は失恋の痛みに悶えた。
He writhed in the pain of heartbreak.
To twist the body in a less intense way, often due to being tickled, feeling awkward, or unable to stay still.
To twist one's body, often in response to tickling, discomfort, or to avoid something. Less violent than もがく.
くすぐられて身をよじった。
I writhed when I was tickled.
To flail or thrash about, often used for children or when someone is struggling playfully or impatiently. Can imply a lack of control.
子供が床でじたばたしていた。
The child was writhing on the floor.
To move with a twisting, sinuous motion, like a snake or worm.
To undulate or meander, used for snakes, rivers, roads, etc. Describes a smooth, wavy motion.
蛇が草むらをうねっていた。
The snake was writhing through the grass.
Archaic or dialectal word for writhing like a snake. Rarely used in modern standard Japanese.
大蛇がのたくろと動いた。
The giant snake writhed.
もがく is the most general and can be used for physical struggling, flailing, or emotional desperation. 身もだえする emphasizes twisting of the body and is often used in literary contexts for agony or ecstasy. のたうち回る is vivid and colloquial, implying rolling around in extreme pain.
彼はもがきながら助けを求めた。
He writhed and called for help.
彼女は悲しみに身もだえした。
She writhed in sorrow.
虫歯が痛くて、のたうち回った。
My tooth hurt so much I was writhing around.
English 'writhe' covers a range of twisting motions, but Japanese often uses specific verbs depending on the cause and intensity. Using a generic translation like よじる in all contexts may sound unnatural. Choose based on whether the writhing is from pain, emotion, or just squirming.
彼は痛みでよじった。
He twisted in pain. (Unnatural; better to use もがく or 身もだえする)
患者はベッドの上で痛みにもがいていた。
The patient was writhing in pain on the bed.
彼女は自分の間違いに気づいて、恥ずかしさに身もだえした。
She writhed with embarrassment when she realized her mistake.