How tired, how full, how careful: states said in a sound.
Japanese has thousands of words that imitate a sound or a state, and they are not baby talk: newspapers, novels and meetings use them. At this level most describe a state rather than a noise — how tired, how crowded, how careless — and they usually attach with と or する: ぐったりする, ずらりと並ぶ. The doubled shape, as in だらだら, tends to mean something repeated or going on; the shape with a small っ and a final り, as in うっかり, tends to mean one settled state.
The words
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Adverb (38)
うっかりcarelessly; without thinkingAdverbN2
うっかりして、傘を電車に忘れてきた。I absent-mindedly left my umbrella on the train.
For slips of attention: うっかりミス, a careless mistake.
しっかりfirmly; properly; reliablyAdverbN3
出かける前に、窓の鍵をしっかり閉めた。Before going out I made sure the windows were properly locked.
Of a person: しっかりした人, someone dependable.
すっかりcompletely; entirelyAdverbN3
約束のことを、すっかり忘れていた。I had completely forgotten about the arrangement.
ぎりぎりonly just; at the very last momentAdverbN2
締め切りぎりぎりに書類を出した。I handed in the documents right on the deadline.
ぐったりlimp; completely worn outAdverbN2
一日中歩き回って、ぐったりしてしまった。After walking around all day, I was completely worn out.
じっとstill; fixedly; patientlyAdverbN3
猫は窓の外の鳥をじっと見ていた。The cat sat staring at the bird outside the window.
きっぱりflatly; firmly; once and for allAdverbN2
彼女は誘いをきっぱりと断った。She turned the invitation down flatly.
Also giving something up for good: タバコをきっぱりやめる.
はきはきclearly; crisply (of speaking)AdverbN2
面接では、質問にはきはきと答えた。In the interview I answered the questions clearly and briskly.
いきいきlively; full of lifeAdverbN2
祖母は畑仕事をしているときが、一番いきいきしている。My grandmother is never more alive than when she is working in the field.
Also written 生き生き.
ぞろぞろin a stream; in drovesAdverbN2
試合が終わると、観客がぞろぞろと駅へ向かった。When the match was over, the crowd streamed towards the station.
びっしょりsoaking wetAdverbN2
急に雨が降ってきて、びっしょり濡れてしまった。It suddenly started raining and I got soaked to the skin.
Also with sweat: 汗びっしょり.
ぐっとfirmly; (holding back) hard; much moreAdverbN2
言いたいことを、ぐっとこらえた。I bit back what I wanted to say.
Also "considerably": ぐっと安くなる.
ずらりin a long rowAdverbN2
棚には古い本がずらりと並んでいた。Old books stood in long rows on the shelves.
ちらっとbriefly; at a glanceAdverbN2
彼は話しながら、時計をちらっと見た。He glanced at his watch while he was talking.
ひやっとwith a sudden chill of fearAdverbN2
自転車とぶつかりそうになって、ひやっとした。I nearly collided with a bicycle, and my heart missed a beat.
A close call; ひやりとする means the same.
ぞっとwith a shudder (of fear or horror)AdverbN2
あの事故のことを思い出すと、今でもぞっとする。I still shudder when I think back to that accident.
ぎっしりtightly packedAdverbN2
手帳には予定がぎっしり詰まっている。My diary is crammed with appointments.
ずっしりheavily; with real weightAdverbN2
本の入った箱は、ずっしりと重かった。The box full of books was really heavy.
ばったり(meeting) by chance; (falling) with a thudAdverbN2
駅で昔の同級生にばったり会った。I bumped into an old classmate at the station.
あっさりlight; plain; without a fussAdverbN2
夏はあっさりした料理が食べたくなる。In summer I want food that is light and plain.
Also giving up easily: あっさり負ける.
こっそりsecretly; on the quietAdverbN2
授業中に、こっそりスマホを見ていた。I was sneaking looks at my phone during the lesson.
ぐずぐずdawdling; ditheringAdverbN2
ぐずぐずしていると、電車に遅れるよ。If you keep dawdling you will miss the train.
ゆったりrelaxed; roomy; at easeAdverbN2
休みの日は、温泉でゆったり過ごしたい。On my day off I want to take it easy at a hot spring.
Also loose clothing: ゆったりしたシャツ.
じわじわslowly but surely; little by littleAdverbN2
物価の上昇が、家計をじわじわと苦しめている。Rising prices are slowly squeezing household budgets.
ずるずる(letting things) drag on; draggingAdverbN2
返事を先延ばしにして、ずるずると一か月が過ぎた。I kept putting off my answer, and a whole month slipped by.
Also the sound of slurping noodles.
だらだらidly; sluggishly; on and onAdverbN2
休みの日は、一日中だらだら過ごしてしまう。On my days off I end up lazing about all day.
Also of a meeting that drags on, or of sweat dripping.
くよくよbrooding; frettingAdverbN2
済んだことをいつまでもくよくよしても、仕方がない。There is no point in brooding forever over what is done.
おどおどnervously; timidlyAdverbN2
新人は上司の前でおどおどしていた。The new recruit was jittery in front of the boss.
もたもたfumbling; slow and clumsyAdverbN2
レジでもたもたしていたら、後ろの人に舌打ちされた。I was fumbling at the till, and the person behind me clicked their tongue.
てきぱきbriskly; efficientlyAdverbN2
彼女は仕事をてきぱきと片付ける。She gets through her work briskly and efficiently.
ぐらぐらwobbly; shakingAdverbN2
この椅子は脚がぐらぐらしていて危ない。This chair has a wobbly leg and is not safe.
Also water at a rolling boil.
よろよろstaggering; totteringAdverbN2
重い荷物を持ったお年寄りが、よろよろと歩いていた。An elderly person was tottering along with a heavy load.
こつこつsteadily; bit by bitAdverbN2
毎日こつこつ練習を続けて、ようやく上手になった。By practising steadily every day, I finally got good at it.
せかせかrestlessly; always in a hurryAdverbN2
祖父はいつもせかせかと歩く。My grandfather always walks as if he is in a hurry.
ざっとroughly; brieflyAdverbN2
会議の前に、資料にざっと目を通した。Before the meeting I skimmed through the documents.
Also with numbers: ざっと百人, roughly a hundred people.
しみじみdeeply; keenly (felt)AdverbN2
久しぶりに実家に帰って、家族のありがたさをしみじみ感じた。Going home for the first time in ages, I felt keenly how much my family means to me.
ちゃっかりshrewdly; cheekilyAdverbN2
弟はちゃっかり一番大きいケーキを取った。My little brother cheekily helped himself to the biggest piece of cake.
がっしりsturdily; solidly builtAdverbN2
彼はがっしりした体つきをしている。He has a solid, sturdy build.
This list belongs to How Japanese builds its words — seven lists and 282 words that can also be practised as a whole.
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