擬態語 V

電車でんしゃの中なかでうつらうつらしていた。

I was dozing on the train.

Usage Used with する. The sound is of consciousness drifting in and out: half asleep. Distinct from ぐっすり, properly asleep.

Remember it うつら doubled → surfacing and sinking, never quite either.

何なにをすべきか分わからずおろおろした。

Not knowing what to do, I was at a loss.

Usage Used with する. The sound suggests unsteady confusion: thrown by an emergency. Unlike あたふた, which is panic from haste.

Remember it おろおろ → turning about with no idea which way to go.

父ちちはかんかんに怒おこっていた。

My father was furious.

Usage かんかんに怒る, furious, with に; and 日がかんかん照る, the sun beating down. One sound for the rage and for the glare.

Remember it かんかん → the hard metallic ring of something at white heat.

電車でんしゃはぎゅうぎゅうに混こんでいた。

The train was packed tight.

Usage Used with に or だ. The ぎゅう is the sound of force applied: crammed in. ぎゅうぎゅう詰め means packed like sardines.

Remember it ぎゅう → the squeeze of pushing one more in.

残業ざんぎょう続つづきでくたくただ。

With overtime day after day I am worn out.

Usage Used as くたくただ or くたくたになる. Close to へとへと. It also describes clothes gone limp and vegetables boiled soft.

Remember it くたくた → nothing left with any stiffness in it.

空そらがどんよりと曇くもっている。

The sky is heavily overcast.

Usage Used with と and する. The heavy どん is dull and opaque: an overcast sky, lifeless eyes, muddy water. Always oppressive.

Remember it どんより → the light gone out of it and the weight left behind.

先生せんせいはこんこんと説といて聞きかせた。

The teacher explained it to him patiently.

Usage こんこんと説く, expounding earnestly, written 懇々と; and こんこんと眠る, sleeping deeply, written 昏々と. Same sound, different characters, different senses.

Remember it 懇 (earnest) or 昏 (dark) doubled → either the patience that keeps explaining, or the dark that keeps you under.

祖母そぼはさめざめと泣ないていた。

My grandmother was weeping quietly.

Usage Used with と. The sound is of small, sustained, sorrowful crying: tears that simply keep coming. Written and vivid.

Remember it さめざめ → crying with no sound in it but the tears not stopping.

塩しおをふると野菜やさいがしんなりする。

Sprinkle salt and the vegetables soften.

Usage Used with する. The しん is a limp yielding: vegetables wilting, cloth hanging soft. The opposite of しゃきしゃき.

Remember it しんなり → the stiffness going out and the shape following the weight.

赤あかちゃんがすやすや眠ねむっている。

The baby is sleeping peacefully.

Usage Used directly with 眠る. Light and regular, like breathing: sleeping soundly. Used almost only of small children. Affectionate.

Remember it すやすや → the sound of easy breathing in a quiet room.

ずかずかと部屋へやに入はいってきた。

He barged into the room.

Usage Used with と. The heavy ずか is rude and unasked: walking in without leave, or into someone's private business. Always critical.

Remember it ずかずか → boots on, and straight across the floor.

文句もんくをたらたら言いっている。

He is grumbling away.

Usage 汗がたらたら流れる, sweat running; and 文句たらたら, complaining without end. The second sense is the tested one.

Remember it たらたら → a slow steady drip, whether of sweat or of complaint.

酒さけをちびちびと飲のんでいる。

He is sipping his drink slowly.

Usage Used with と. The ちび is a small quantity: sipping, or spending in dribs. ちびちび使う is to eke something out.

Remember it ちびちび → a little at a time, and making it last.

髪かみがつやつやしている。

Her hair is glossy.

Usage Used with する. The sound suggests a surface catching the light: sleek and lustrous. Used of hair, skin and fruit. Complimentary.

Remember it 艶 (lustre) doubled → the shine of a well-kept surface.

何なにを考かんがえているのかにたにたしている。

He is grinning about something or other.

Usage Used with する. Heavier than にやにや: a sly grin that makes the onlooker uneasy. Always negative.

Remember it にたにた → the smile with something unpleasant behind it.

床ゆかがぬるぬるして滑すべりやすい。

The floor is slimy and slippery.

Usage Used with する. The ぬる is a film of slime: slippery, greasy. Used of wet floors, eels and algae.

Remember it ぬるぬる → a surface your hand slides off.

朝あさからばたばたしている。

I have been in a flap since morning.

Usage Used with する. Rushing about with no time to breathe; and 旗がばたばたする, a flag flapping. The first is the commoner.

Remember it ばたばた → the sound of things being done too fast to be done quietly.

不満ふまんをぶすぶすと言いっている。

He is muttering discontentedly.

Usage ぶすぶす燃える, smouldering with smoke; and muttering complaints under one's breath. Both senses suggest something that smoulders without breaking out.

Remember it ぶすぶす → burning under the surface without ever catching flame.

手てが汗あせでべたべたする。

My hands are sticky with sweat.

Usage Used with する. Sticky and tacky; and べたべたする二人, a couple all over each other — the second is faintly disapproving.

Remember it べたべた → whatever it touches, it clings to.

表紙ひょうしがぼろぼろになった辞書じしょだ。

It is a dictionary whose cover has fallen to pieces.

Usage Used as ぼろぼろだ / になる. Three senses: tattered; ぼろぼろ涙がこぼれる, tears spilling; and being emotionally in pieces.

Remember it ぼろ (rags) doubled → coming apart, whether the book, the tears or the person.

子こどもたちがわいわい騒さわいでいる。

The children are making a happy racket.

Usage Used directly with a verb. Many cheerful voices at once: boisterous. Positive, unlike the neutral がやがや.

Remember it わいわい → the noise of people enjoying themselves.