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立ちすくむ (たちすくむ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

立たちすくむ

た

ち

す

く

む

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-mu), intransitive verb

stand frozen; be petrified; be paralyzed with fear or shock

Describes being so shocked, scared, or amazed that one cannot move; often used with emotions like horror, surprise, or awe.

突とつ然ぜんの大おおきな音おとに、彼かれはその場ばに立たちすくんだ。
He stood frozen on the spot at the sudden loud noise.
あまりの光こう景けいに、私わたし

は

言こと

葉ば

も

なく

立た

ちすくん

で

い

た

。

I was standing there speechless, petrified by the sight.

Written forms

立たちすくむUsage80%
Standard kanji spelling.
立たち竦すくむUsage16%
Rare variant using 竦む; 立ちすくむ is preferred.
たちすくむUsage4%

Kanji

立stand up, rise, set up
竦crouch, cower

Similar words

固かたまる
固まる means 'to stiffen' or 'to freeze up' more generally, while 立ちすくむ specifically means standing still due to shock or fear.
すくむ
すくむ is the base verb meaning 'to shrink back' or 'to cower'; 立ちすくむ adds the nuance of standing frozen.

Etymology

Compound of 立ち (the continuative form of 立つ 'to stand') and すくむ ('to shrink back, cower'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally expresses standing still due to fear or shock.