たゆたう

tayutau
/tajɯtaɯ/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
To sway without settling, in water or in the mind.

Examples

  • 出発するか残るか、彼は長くたゆたった。
    He hesitated a long time over leaving or staying.
  • 水面に花びらがたゆたっている。
    Petals floated on the water.
  • 希望と不安の間で気持ちがたゆたっていた。
    Her feelings wavered between hope and fear.
  • 彼女の心は二つの道の間でたゆたった。
    Her mind wavered between two paths.
  • 薄い雲が山の上をたゆたった。
    Thin clouds drifted above the mountain.

Similar words

迷う
ためらう
決めかねる
揺れる
漂う
ゆらめく

Meanings

Drift and sway

verb
movement
literary
To float or move gently back and forth without settling in one place.

Examples

  • 小舟が波間にたゆたっていた。
    A small boat drifted among the waves.
  • 白い煙が夕空にたゆたう。
    White smoke drifted in the evening sky.
  • 水面に花びらがたゆたっている。
    Petals floated on the water.
  • 薄い雲が山の上をたゆたった。
    Thin clouds drifted above the mountain.
  • 灯の影が壁にたゆたう。
    The lamplight’s shadow wavered on the wall.

Similar words

Waver in choice

verb
decisions
literary
To remain undecided as the mind moves between possible choices.

Examples

  • 彼女の心は二つの道の間でたゆたった。
    Her mind wavered between two paths.
  • 返事を決められず、思いだけがたゆたっていた。
    Unable to decide on a reply, her thoughts kept wavering.
  • 出発するか残るか、彼は長くたゆたった。
    He hesitated a long time over leaving or staying.
  • その言葉を口にする前に心がたゆたう。
    His resolve wavered before he spoke those words.
  • 希望と不安の間で気持ちがたゆたっていた。
    Her feelings wavered between hope and fear.

Similar words

Etymology

FAQ

What does たゆたう mean?

To sway without settling, in water or in the mind.

How do you read たゆたう?

It is read たゆたう, written tayutau.

When would you use たゆたう?

Literary, linking the unsettled motion of water or air to an unsettled mind.

How is たゆたう different from 漂う?

漂う describes drifting, but does not itself carry the separate sense of hesitation.

How does たゆたう change in a sentence?

A godan verb: たゆたいます, たゆたって, たゆたった.

Comments & contributions

Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
Posting as a guest · Sign in
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.
Look up word or phrase...