もつれる (motsureru) Japanese meaning: get tangled | Kotomora

もつれる

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Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

もつれる · ichidan verb

Meanings

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

get tangled; become entangled

usually written using kana alone

Describes threads, strings, hair, or similar things becoming physically tangled or knotted.

絡からまる sense 1
絡まる often describes something winding around and catching on another object, while 縺れる describes the resulting tangled, knotted state itself.
こじれるN1sense 3
こじれる is used when a relationship or situation turns sour with negative emotional strain, whereas 縺れる simply means things become tangled or complicated.
紛ふん糾きゅう sense 3
紛糾する describes a formal dispute or discussion becoming chaotic and contentious, while 縺れる can describe any situation, plan, or relationship becoming tangled.
ねじれるN1
もつれる describes things (like threads, words, or relationships) becoming tangled or entangled, similar to 捩れる's sense of a strained, complicated situation but with more focus on entanglement than distortion.

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絡からむN1
もつれる describes things (or words, feet) becoming snarled and hard to sort out, whereas 絡む is more neutral about simple entanglement.
絡からみ合あう
もつれる suggests a messier, often accidental tangling (of thread, legs, or speech), whereas 絡み合う focuses on multiple things winding around each other mutually.

ほどけるN1sense 1
解ける means a knot or tangle comes loose and unravels, the opposite of 縺れる, which means threads or strings become tangled.
ほぐれるN1
もつれる means threads or strings become tangled together, the opposite of ほぐれる's sense of a tangle coming apart.

ほつれるN1sense 1
解れる describes threads fraying and coming loose at the edge of fabric, while 縺れる describes threads becoming knotted together; the similar sound often causes learners to mix them up.

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to the mimetic root motsu- suggesting entanglement or twisting, but the exact derivation is unclear.