彷徨う

• Reading: さまよう
• Romaji: samayou
• Kanji breakdown: 彷 (hō/samayo) — wander, roam; 徨 (kō) — wander, stray
• Pronunciation: /sa.ma.jo.ɯ/

Meaning

To wander; to roam about; to drift aimlessly. Describes moving around without a clear destination or purpose.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb conveying aimless movement, both literal and figurative. Literally used for physically wandering streets or wilderness. Figuratively describes being lost in thought, indecision, or existential uncertainty. Often written in hiragana (さまよう) in modern texts.

Examples

1. 夜の街を一人で彷徨った。 I wandered the city streets alone at night.
2. 生死の境を彷徨っていたが、なんとか助かった。 I hovered between life and death, but somehow managed to survive.
3. 進路に迷い、心が彷徨っている。 I'm lost about my future, and my mind is wandering.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, storytelling, figurative speech

Tone: melancholic

Origin & History

The kanji 彷徨 combines 彷 (wander, roam) and 徨 (wander, stray), both containing the radical 彳 (step, walk), doubly emphasising aimless walking.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal