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よろける Japanese meaning | Kotomora

よろける

よ

ろ

け

る

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

stagger; stumble

usually written using kana alone

Describes unsteady movement, often from intoxication, fatigue, or being pushed off balance.

酔よっ払ぱらいが道みちでよろけている。
A drunk is staggering on the street.
疲つかれ

て

足あし

が

よろけ

て

しまっ

た

。

I was so tired that my legs stumbled.

Written forms

よろけるUsage99%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 蹌踉ける and 蹣跚ける are rare.
蹌踉よろけるUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
蹣跚よろける
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Kanji

蹌move, stagger
踉stagger, falter
蹣staggering, tottering
跚stagger, reel, stumble

Similar words

ふらつく
ふらつく also means to stagger or feel dizzy, but it can refer to lightheadedness or unsteady walking due to illness or weakness, while よろける emphasizes a physical loss of balance causing a stumble.
よろめく
よろめく is very similar and often interchangeable, but よろける can imply a more sudden or momentary stumble, whereas よろめく may suggest a more continuous swaying.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; it is likely a native Japanese mimetic or sound-symbolic word related to unsteady movement.