Entry
ぶるぶる
buruburu
This word describes a continuous, rapid trembling or shivering of the body or an object, usually due to cold, fear, or mechanical vibration.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Buruburu is a mimetic word describing the rapid, continuous physical shaking or trembling of a body or object. It most commonly refers to involuntary bodily reactions when someone is shivering from cold, or trembling under extreme emotions like intense fear or suppressed anger. It can also describe the physical vibration of mechanical devices like cell phones.
- Shivering due to freezing temperatures.
- Trembling from intense fear or suppressed anger.
- Rapid mechanical vibration (like a phone).
Sense Map
Cold & Shivering
Describes the continuous shivering of a body exposed to freezing temperatures.
寒さでぶるぶる震える。
Extreme Emotion (Fear/Anger)
Indicates intense bodily shaking due to profound fear or barely suppressed anger.
恐怖でぶるぶる震える。
Mechanical Vibration
Used to describe the rapid physical vibration of devices, such as a ringing phone on a desk.
スマホがぶるぶる震える。
Usage Note
How to Use
ぶるぶる（と） + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how someone or something is shaking, almost always modifying the verb 震える (furueru).
ぶるぶるする
Used with 'suru' to directly state the condition of trembling, shivering, or vibrating.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぶるぶる震える
to tremble / to shiver
寒さでぶるぶるする
to shiver from the cold
怒りでぶるぶる震える
to tremble with anger
体をぶるぶるさせる
to vigorously shake one's body (like a dog shaking off water)
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cold | neutral | A natural, involuntary physical reaction to generate body heat. |
| Fear / Anger | negative | Describes a body overtaken by intense, hard-to-control emotion. |
| Electronic Devices | neutral | Mechanical vibration, such as a smartphone's vibrate setting or a game controller. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
がくがく がくがく / similar | When knees give way, joints shake violently, or teeth chatter audibly. | Not as fine and rapid as buruburu; it implies a rougher, looser shaking and loss of strength. | 膝がガクガクする |
ぞくぞく ぞくぞく / similar | For the internal sensation of a chill, shivering feeling, or thrill before getting goosebumps. | Describes the internal sensory feeling, not the visible physical shaking of the body. | 寒気でぞくぞくする |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using 'ぶるぶる' to describe an earthquake.
Use 'ぐらぐら' (guragura) or 'ゆらゆら' (yurayura) for earthquakes. Buruburu is for small objects or living bodies.
Using 'ぶるぶる' for intentionally shaking a bottle of juice.
Intentional shaking is described with the verb '振る' (furu). Buruburu is strictly for involuntary or mechanical vibration.
Examples
Examples
寒さで体がぶるぶる震えた。
さむさでからだがぶるぶるふるえた。
My body shivered with cold.
VisualShows the body's natural physical reaction to freezing weather.
子犬が恐怖でぶるぶる震えている。
こいぬがきょうふでぶるぶるふるえている。
The puppy is trembling with fear.
VisualDescribes uncontrollable body shaking due to strong fear.
彼は怒りで唇をぶるぶるさせていた。
かれはいかりでくちびるをぶるぶるさせていた。
His lips were trembling with anger.
VisualUsed when someone is holding back anger so great that it physically affects them.
スマートフォンが机の上でぶるぶる震えている。
スマートフォンがつくえのうえでぶるぶるふるえている。
The smartphone is vibrating on the desk.
VisualAn example of using buruburu for the constant mechanical vibration of a device.
水を浴びた犬が体をぶるぶるさせた。
みずをあびたいぬがからだをぶるぶるさせた。
The wet dog shook its body vigorously.
VisualShows the rapid side-to-side shaking movement of an animal to dry off.
Similar Words
ガクガク
gakugaku
Describes heavy physical trembling or objects shaking and wobbling because they are loose. Used when joints shake violently or knees give out, implying a rougher wobble.
ぞくぞく
zokuzoku
ぞくぞく describes the physical sensation of shivering or a chill going down one's spine due to cold, fever, fear, or intense excitement. Describes the internal feeling of a chill or thrill before physical shivering starts.
ぷるぷる
purupuru
ぷるぷる describes a soft, elastic, jiggly texture or a very slight, delicate trembling motion.
Questions
Can I use 'buruburu' for my phone vibrating?
Yes. You can say 'スマホがぶるぶる震える' (My phone is vibrating).
What's the difference between 'buruburu' and 'guragura'?
'Buruburu' is a fast, fine vibration like shivering. 'Guragura' is a large, unstable wobble or rocking motion, like a loose tooth or a building in an earthquake.
Can 'buruburu' describe a dog shaking off water?
Yes, it is very commonly used when a wet dog vigorously shakes its entire body side to side.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1011260
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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