Meaning and Usage
The verb 揺さぶる (ゆさぶる) primarily means "to shake" or "to jolt." It is used both in literal physical contexts, such as shaking a building or an object, and in figurative contexts, such as emotionally shaking someone's feelings or thoughts.
Common Contexts
- Physical shaking: Used when something is physically moved back and forth or up and down with force.
- Emotional impact: Often used metaphorically to describe something that deeply affects or unsettles a person's emotions or mindset.
Collocations and Patterns
- 揺さぶる + 心 (こころ): to shake someone's heart or emotions.
- 揺さぶる + 建物/体 (たてもの/からだ): to shake a building or body.
- ブランコを揺さぶる: to swing a swing.
Register and Nuance
揺さぶる is a somewhat formal or literary verb, often found in written language or more serious spoken contexts. It conveys a strong sense of movement or impact, whether physical or emotional.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 揺さぶる with 揺れる (ゆれる), which means "to shake" or "to sway" but is intransitive (the subject shakes itself). 揺さぶる is transitive and requires a direct object that is being shaken.