揺れる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 揺れる (ゆれる) is an ichidan intransitive verb for an object swaying or a person’s resolve wavering.
• Basic usage: カーテンが揺れている describes ongoing movement caused by wind, while 心は揺れた reports a past wavering of resolve before a choice.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Physical sway and emotional wavering
  • カーテンが揺れる is physical motion, whereas 心が揺れる figuratively describes unstable resolve. The latter does not mean the heart physically moved back and forth.