もつれる

も

つ

れ

る

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.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

trip over one's tongue; stumble over one's words; have poor control over

usually written using kana alone

Used in set phrases like 舌がもつれる (to slur or stumble over words) and 足がもつれる (to trip or have one's legs get tangled).

〈物もの〉がもつれるfor thread, string, or hair to become tangled
毛け糸いとがもつれてなかなかほどけない。
The yarn got tangled and won't come undone.
舌したがもつれるto trip over one's tongue; to slur one's words
緊きん張ちょうして舌したがもつれてしまった。
I was so nervous my words came out slurred.
足あしがもつれるto trip over one's own feet; to lose control of one's legs
疲つかれて足あしがもつれて転ころんでしまった。
I was so tired my legs got tangled up and I fell.
話はなしがもつれるfor a discussion or matter to become complicated
遺い産さん分ぶん割かつの話はなしがもつれて、なかなか決けっ着ちゃくしない。
The discussion over the inheritance division got complicated and won't be settled.
交こう渉しょうがもつれるfor negotiations to get tangled up or reach a deadlock
賃ちん金ぎん交こう渉しょうがもつれて、労ろう使しの対たい立りつが続つづいている。
The wage negotiations got bogged down, and the standoff between labor and management continues.

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.