しゃがむ

しゃ

が

む

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

しゃがむ · godan verb (-mu)

Meanings

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

Describes lowering the body by bending the knees, often with the heels on or off the ground. Common in everyday situations.

〈場ば所しょ〉にしゃがむto squat down at/on a place
彼かれは地じ面めんにしゃがんで何なにかを見みていた。
He was crouched on the ground looking at something.
しゃがんで〈動どう詞し〉to crouch and do something
しゃがんで靴くつのひもを結むすんだ。
I crouched down and tied my shoelaces.

座すわるN5
座る means to sit (on a chair, floor, etc.) with the body fully lowered, while しゃがむ means to squat or crouch on bent knees without fully sitting down.
かがむ
かがむ means to bend or stoop forward, often from the waist, while しゃがむ specifically means to lower the body by deeply bending the knees into a squat.
うずくまるN1
しゃがむ is the plain, everyday word for squatting down, while うずくまる adds a nuance of fear, pain, or huddling low.

立たつN5
立つ means to stand up, the direct opposite of しゃがむ which means to squat or crouch down.

座すわるN5
しゃがむ means to crouch or squat with the body lowered but not resting on a seat, whereas 座る means to be fully seated.

The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese verb with no clear kanji association.