godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb
become misty; become hazy
Describes the air, scenery, or a view becoming blurred by mist, fog, or haze. Often used for natural landscapes or atmospheric conditions.
朝、山がもやっていた。
In the morning, the mountains were misty.
遠くの景色がもやって見える。
The distant scenery looks hazy.
Standard kanji spelling. The kanji 靄 means 'mist' or 'haze'.
Kana spelling is common when the kanji is considered difficult or when a softer, more casual feel is desired.
霞む also means 'to become hazy' but is more common and can be used for both physical haze and metaphorical dimming (e.g., of vision or memory). 靄る is more specifically about mist or fog in the air.
霧がかかる is a common phrase meaning 'to be foggy' or 'fog rolls in'. 靄る is a single verb with a similar meaning but is less frequent and more literary.
Derived from the noun 靄 (もや, 'mist', 'haze') with the verb-forming suffix る. The noun もや is of uncertain origin, possibly related to もやもや (onomatopoeia for 'hazy' or 'foggy').