quake

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is しん, and the kun readings are ふるう and ふるえる. It has 15 strokes. It appears in words for earthquakes and physical trembling.
• Basic usage: 地震 is read じしん and 震える is read ふるえる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 地震 / 震える
  • 地震 means earthquake and is read じしん. It refers to an earthquake and situations involving a response to it.
  • 防災訓練で地震が起きた場合の動きを確認した。 means “During the disaster drill, we reviewed what to do in an earthquake.”
  • 震える means tremble or shiver and is read ふるえる. It describes the body or hands trembling from cold or fear.
  • 冷たい風に手が震えました。 means “My hands trembled in the cold wind.”