揺り動かす

• Reading: ゆりうごかす
• Romaji: yuriugokasu
• Kanji breakdown: 揺 (yō/yuru) — to shake, to sway; 動 (dō/ugoku) — to move; 動かす (ugokasu) — to cause to move
• Pronunciation: /jɯ.ɾi.ɯ.ɡo.ka.sɯ/

Meaning

To shake; to swing; to move back and forth. Used both for physical rocking motion and for emotionally stirring or moving someone.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb combining 揺り (from 揺る — to sway) and 動かす (to cause to move). The physical sense describes rocking or oscillating movement; the figurative sense describes profoundly stirring someone emotionally, often through art, speech, or music.

Examples

1. 強い地震が建物全体を激しく揺り動かした。 A powerful earthquake violently shook the entire building.
2. 彼女の演説は聴衆の心を深く揺り動かした。 Her speech deeply moved the hearts of the audience.
3. 子供を優しく揺り動かしながら、子守唄を歌った。 She sang a lullaby while gently rocking the child.

Usage Guide

Context: physical motion, emotional impact, speeches, music, disasters

Tone: vivid

Origin & History

Compound of 揺り (the continuative form of 揺る — to sway) and 動かす (to move something, causative of 動く). The pairing of two movement-related morphemes creates an emphatic sense of back-and-forth motion.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: General