ぶらぶら

ぶ

ら

ぶ

ら

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

ぶらぶらする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes something hanging loosely and moving gently, such as a pendant, a limb, or a loose object.

Walking around without a fixed purpose, often for pleasure or to kill time.

idly; lazily; doing nothing in particular

Spending time without any productive activity, often at home or in a relaxed setting.

〈物もの〉がぶらぶらするfor something to dangle or swing loosely
電でん線せんが風かぜでぶらぶらしている。
The wires are swaying in the wind.
〈場ば所しょ〉をぶらぶらするto stroll around a place aimlessly
休きゅう日じつは近ちかくの公こう園えんをぶらぶらした。
On my day off, I strolled around the nearby park.
〈場ば所しょ〉でぶらぶらするto idle around at a place, doing nothing in particular
雨あめの日ひは家いえでぶらぶらしている。
On rainy days I just lounge around at home.
仕し事ごともせずにぶらぶらするto idle about without working
彼かれは仕し事ごともせずにぶらぶらしている。
He's just idling around without a job.

ゆらゆらN1sense 1
ゆらゆら describes a slow, gentle swaying (like a flame or curtain), while ぶらぶら implies a heavier, looser dangling motion.
ぶらつく sense 2
ぶらつく is a verb meaning to stroll or loiter, whereas ぶらぶら is the adverb used with する to express the same aimless walking.
のんびりN3sense 3
のんびり emphasizes relaxed, carefree ease, while ぶらぶら stresses idleness with a hint of aimlessness or lack of productivity.
うろうろN3
うろうろ implies aimless, sometimes anxious wandering, whereas ぶらぶら suggests a relaxed, leisurely stroll with no negative undertone.
ごろごろN3
ぶらぶら suggests aimless wandering or strolling, while ゴロゴロ suggests lying down and doing nothing, often at home.

ふらふらN3
ふらふら describes unsteadiness or dizziness (e.g. from fatigue), while ぶらぶら describes loose dangling or leisurely wandering without purpose.
ぶるぶるN1
ぶらぶら (dangling, strolling aimlessly) sounds similar to ぶるぶる but describes a completely different, slower swinging or idle motion rather than rapid trembling.

ぶらぶら病やまい
lingering illness; chronic ill health; long-term malaise of uncertain origin

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it likely imitates the sound or motion of something swinging loosely.