うねる

う

ね

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

うねる · godan verb (-ru)

Meanings

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

Describes roads, rivers, paths, or similar linear things that curve and bend repeatedly.

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

Used for waves, smoke, clouds, or large surfaces that rise and fall in a wavelike motion.

〈場ば所しょ〉がうねるfor a road or path to wind and curve repeatedly
この山やま道みちは大おおきくうねっている。
This mountain road winds and curves sharply.
波なみがうねるfor waves to swell and roll
台たい風ふうの影えい響きょうで海うみが大おおきくうねっている。
The sea is swelling heavily because of the typhoon.
髪かみがうねるfor hair to be wavy, undulating in shape
湿しっ気けで髪かみがうねってしまう。
My hair gets wavy because of the humidity.
煙けむりがうねるfor smoke to billow and swirl upward
工こう場じょうから煙けむりがうねりながら立たち上あがっている。
Smoke is billowing up from the factory.

波なみ打うつ sense 2
波打つ specifically means to ripple or wave like water, while うねる suggests larger, slower undulations that can apply to roads, waves, or smoke.
曲まがるN5sense 1
曲がる means to bend or turn, often a single change of direction, while うねる implies continuous, wavy curves repeated along a path.
くねる sense 1
くねる describes a road or path making sharp, snake-like turns, while うねる suggests broader, more sweeping undulations.
蛇だ行こう sense 1
蛇行する is used specifically for rivers or roads snaking back and forth, whereas うねる also covers waves, smoke, and other wavelike motion.
縮ちぢれるN2
うねる describes a broader, sweeping undulation (of hair, roads, waves), while 縮れる specifically refers to tight curling or frizzing.

唸うなるN3
唸る (うなる) means to groan or growl and sounds similar to 畝る (うねる), which instead means to wind or undulate.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the noun 畝 (うね, 'ridge' or 'furrow'), suggesting a wavy, ridged shape.