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たゆたう Japanese meaning | Kotomora

たゆたう

た

ゆ

た

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

sway to and fro; drift about; flutter; flicker

usually written using kana alone

Describes physical, gentle, undulating movement, often of things on water, in air, or light.

小こ舟ぶねが波なみにたゆたっている。
A small boat is drifting on the waves.
ろうそく

の

火ひ

が

風かぜ

に

たゆたう

。

The candle flame flickers in the wind.

2

godan verb (-u), intransitive verb

waver; vacillate; be irresolute; be fickle

usually written using kana alone

Describes a person's mind, feelings, or decisions swaying without settling; often used in literary or introspective contexts.

彼かれの心こころは二ふたつの選せん択たくの間あいだでたゆたっていた。
His heart wavered between the two choices.
恋こい心ごころがたゆたう春はるの宵よい。
A spring evening when love feelings drift uncertainly.

Written forms

Applies to each form listed below

gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

たゆたうUsage99%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 揺蕩う and 猶予う are rare and literary.
揺蕩たゆたうUsage1%
Rare kanji form; the reading is a jukujikun.
猶予たゆたう
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; the reading is a jukujikun.

Kanji

揺swing, shake, sway
蕩melt, be charmed, captivated
猶furthermore, still, yet
予beforehand, previous, myself

Similar words

揺ゆれる
揺れる is a more common, general word for shaking or swaying, while たゆたう implies a slower, gentler, often poetic undulation.
漂ただよう
漂う focuses on floating or drifting in air or water, often with a nuance of aimlessness, whereas たゆたう emphasizes the rhythmic, swaying motion itself.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the reduplicated mimetic root たゆたゆ, suggesting a gentle swaying motion. The kanji 揺蕩う and 猶予う are jukujikun, assigned for their meanings rather than phonetic derivation.