cringing
縮こまる
解説 Definition
cringing は cringe（縮こまる、すくむ）の動名詞・現在分詞です。恐怖や気まずさ、不快感で体を引いたり身を縮めたりする動作を表します。
Cringing is the action of drawing back, bending, or shrinking because of fear, pain, embarrassment, or strong discomfort. It is the gerund or present participle of cringe and may describe either a visible bodily reaction or, in broader use, an inward response to something embarrassing.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
cringe の語末 e を落として -ing を付けた形が cringing です。原形 /krɪndʒ/ に対し /ˈkrɪndʒɪŋ/ と一音節増えます。cringe at a loud noise、cringe in fear のように、恐怖・不快・気まずさで体を引き、身を縮める場面を思い浮かべます。単なる crouch より感情的な反応を含む点が重要です。
Cringing is formed from cringe by dropping the final silent e and adding -ing. The pronunciation gains an extra syllable: cringe ends in the sound /dʒ/, while cringing continues with /ɪŋ/. Picture a child shrinking from a sudden noise or a dog pressed into a corner during thunder. That bodily movement links the word to fear and discomfort. Cringe at and cringe when are common patterns. Unlike crouching, which simply describes a low physical position, cringing normally suggests an emotional cause such as fear, pain, awkwardness, or embarrassment.
例文
The child was cringing at the loud noise.
その子どもは大きな音に身をすくめていました。
He kept cringing when the cold wind hit his face.
冷たい風が顔に当たるたびに、彼は縮こまっていました。
Cringing in the corner, the dog waited for the thunder to stop.
隅で身を縮めながら、その犬は雷がやむのを待っていました。
cringing の類義語・関連語
対義語
紛らわしい語
cringing の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 cringan（戦いで倒れる、身をかがめる）が語源。恐怖や不快で体を縮めるという身体反応を表す。関連語：crinkle（しわくちゃになる）、cringe と同じゲルマン語根で「曲がる・縮む」が核心。現代では恥ずかしさへの反応にも広く使われる。
Cringing is the -ing form of cringe. Cringe descends from Old English cringan, a verb associated with yielding, falling, or bending in battle, and its meaning later focused on shrinking or drawing back in fear. Modern English extended the physical reaction to responses caused by embarrassment or social discomfort. Although crinkle may help learners remember the general image of bending or wrinkling, it should not be treated as a securely established direct derivative of cringe.
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