よぎる

よ

ぎ

る

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

pass by; cross; flash across

usually written using kana alone

Describes something moving across a space or through one's mind, often briefly or unexpectedly. Common with subjects like 考え (thought), 不安 (anxiety), or 影 (shadow).

ふと、嫌いやな考かんがえが頭あたまをよぎった。
An unpleasant thought suddenly crossed my mind.

鳥とりの影かげが窓まどの外そとをよぎった。

The shadow of a bird passed by outside the window.

Written forms

よぎるUsage80%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 過ぎる is easily confused with すぎる (to exceed/pass).
過よぎるUsage15%
Alternate kanji spelling; very rare and also prone to misreading.
過よぎるUsage5%
Kanji spelling is rare and easily misread as すぎる; use kana to avoid confusion.

Kanji

過overdo, exceed, go beyond

Similar words

過すぎる
すぎる means 'to exceed' or 'to pass (time)', and is a very common verb. よぎる is much rarer and specifically means 'to pass across' or 'to flash through (one's mind)'.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 過ぎる (すぎる) with a shift in reading and meaning. The exact historical development is uncertain, but よぎる likely originated as a variant emphasizing the sense of 'passing across' rather than 'exceeding'.