揺さぶる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 揺さぶる(ゆさぶる) is a transitive verb for shaking something forcefully or unsettling feelings or beliefs.
• Basic usage: It appears when shaking snow from a branch or seriously disturbing trust.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Shaking something and something moving
  • 枝を揺さぶる describes applying force to a branch, whereas 枝が揺れる describes the branch moving.
• Metaphor and conjugation
  • 信頼を揺さぶる means unsettling the basis of trust rather than causing physical motion.
  • It is a godan verb with forms such as 揺さぶった and 揺さぶらない.