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.
He writhed in pain.
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.
He writhed in agony.
Vivid expression for rolling around in pain, often used for intense suffering. Conveys a more violent, uncontrolled movement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The snake was writhing through the grass.
Archaic or dialectal word for writhing like a snake. Rarely used in modern standard Japanese.
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.
He writhed and called for help.
She writhed in sorrow.
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.
He twisted in pain. (Unnatural; better to use もがく or 身もだえする)
The patient was writhing in pain on the bed.
She writhed with embarrassment when she realized her mistake.
彼は失恋の痛みに悶えた。
He writhed in the pain of heartbreak.