Entry
くらり
kurari
A sudden sensation of dizziness or lightheadedness.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes the brief moment when someone suddenly feels dizzy, lightheaded, or loses their balance. It is often used when standing up too quickly or feeling momentarily weak.
- sudden dizziness
- momentary loss of balance
Sense Map
Head dizziness
A sudden dizzy or lightheaded sensation felt in the head.
頭がくらりとする。
Losing balance
The moment the body loses balance or sways due to feeling faint.
足元がくらりと揺れる。
Usage Note
How to Use
くらりとする
Used as a verb phrase to state the condition of feeling suddenly dizzy.
くらりと + verb
Functions as an adverb describing an action like swaying or falling due to dizziness.
How to Use
Common Phrases
くらりとする
to feel suddenly dizzy
頭がくらりとする
head feels dizzy
くらりと揺れる
to sway unsteadily
足元がくらりとする
feet feel unsteady
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standing up too quickly | neutral | Often used to describe the brief rush of blood to the head that causes a momentary sway. |
| Anemia or illness | neutral | Appropriate when someone suddenly feels weak or is about to faint. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
くらくら くらくら / similar | Use for continuous dizziness that lasts for a while. | くらり refers only to a single, sudden moment of dizziness. | 頭がくらくらする。 |
くらっと くらっと / similar | Use for an even more abrupt, sharper moment of faintness. | くらり has a slight feeling of swaying, while クラッと focuses on the immediate impact. | クラッと倒れる。 |
ふらふら ふらふら / similar | Use when the whole body feels unstable, such as walking unsteadily. | くらり focuses on the sudden sensation in the head or a single sudden sway. | ふらふら歩く。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using this word for a continuous headache.
This word is only for a brief, sudden sensation of dizziness or faintness.
Using it to express feeling sleepy.
It refers to a loss of balance or feeling lightheaded, not drowsiness.
Examples
Examples
立ち上がった瞬間、頭がくらりとした。
たちあがった しゅんかん、 あたま が くらりと した。
The moment I stood up, my head felt suddenly dizzy.
LiteralDescribes a sudden lightheadedness from standing up.
貧血で足元がくらりと揺れた。
ひんけつ で あしもと が くらりと ゆれた。
My feet swayed unsteadily from anemia.
LiteralDescribes the moment of losing balance in the lower body.
強い日差しを浴びて、視界がくらりと歪んだ。
つよい ひざし を あびて、 しかい が くらりと ゆがんだ。
Bathed in the strong sunlight, my vision suddenly swam.
VisualDescribes the visual effect of momentary dizziness.
高いところから下を見下ろすと、くらりとする。
たかい ところ から した を みおろす と、 くらりと する。
Looking down from a high place makes me feel momentarily dizzy.
LiteralDescribes the dizzy feeling caused by looking down a height.
突然のショックな知らせに、くらりと倒れそうになった。
とつぜん の ショックな しらせ に、 くらりと たおれそうに なった。
I felt dizzy and almost collapsed from the sudden shocking news.
FigurativeThe sensation of faintness caused by psychological shock.
Similar Words
クラッと
kuratto
For an even sharper, more abrupt moment of faintness.
クラクラ
kurakura
A sensation of dizziness or vertigo where the head feels like it is spinning, or the appearance of water boiling vigorously. Used for continuous dizziness that lasts for a while.
ふらふら
furafura
Describes a lack of stability, whether physically (feeling dizzy or walking unsteadily) or mentally (being indecisive or wandering aimlessly). When the whole body feels unstable or shaky.
Questions
Can I use くらり for motion sickness?
Usually not. Motion sickness involves continuous nausea or dizziness, while this word is for a sudden, brief moment of unsteadiness.
What is the difference between this and めまい (memai)?
めまい is the general noun for dizziness or vertigo, whereas this is an onomatopoeia describing the exact sensation or moment of losing balance.
Can this be used for an earthquake tremor?
No. This word is specific to physical sensations in a human or animal body, not inanimate objects.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2862599
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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