たゆたう
tayutau
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drift, sway, waver, hesitate
/tajɯtaɯ/
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To sway without settling, in water or in the mind.
Examples
灯の影が壁にたゆたう。
The lamplight’s shadow wavered on the wall.
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.
小舟が波間にたゆたっていた。
A small boat drifted among the waves.
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.
Meanings
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.
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.
FAQ
To sway without settling, in water or in the mind.
It is read たゆたう, written tayutau.
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.
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