うなる

• Reading: うなる
• Romaji: unaru
• Kanji breakdown: 唸 (una) — groan, moan
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.na.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To groan; to moan. To make a low, sustained sound expressing pain, effort, or deep thought.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated as うなら/うなり/うなる/うなれ/うなろう. Can describe sounds of pain, animals growling, wind howling, or the figurative sense of being deeply impressed or troubled. 唸り声 (unari-goe) means a groaning or growling sound. Often written in hiragana.

Examples

1. お腹が痛くてベッドでうなっていた。 My stomach hurt so much I was groaning in bed.
2. 犬が知らない人を見てうなり始めた。 The dog started growling when it saw a stranger.
3. 難しい問題にうなりながら考えた。 I groaned as I wrestled with the difficult problem.

Usage Guide

Context: health, animals, concentration

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

An onomatopoeic word from Old Japanese mimicking the low, rumbling sound of groaning or growling. The kanji 唸 (mouth + thought) depicts vocalized deep thinking or distress.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal