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思い惑う (おもいまどう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

思おもい惑まどう

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Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

be at a loss; be perplexed; be unable to decide

Describes a state of mental confusion or indecision, often when faced with a difficult choice or unexpected situation. Slightly literary.

突とつ然ぜんの知しらせに思おもい惑まどって、何なにも言いえなかった。
I was so bewildered by the sudden news that I couldn't say anything.

進しん路ろのことで思おもい惑まどっている。

I'm at a loss about my future path.

Kanji

思think
惑beguile, delusion, perplexity

Similar words

迷まよう
迷う is the common word for 'to be lost/hesitate' and covers physical and mental indecision. 思い惑う is more specifically about mental confusion and is less frequent.
戸と惑まどう
戸惑う also means 'to be perplexed', but often implies being thrown off by an unexpected situation. 思い惑う emphasizes internal conflict and indecision.

Etymology

Compound of 思い (thought, feeling) and 惑う (to be perplexed, to lose one's way). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination straightforwardly yields 'to be lost in thought'.