Onomatopoeia for Expressing Restlessness
Table of Contents
1. Onomatopoeia for Expressing Restlessness
2. What is Onomatopoeia?
3. Onomatopoeia that Express Physical Restlessness
4. Onomatopoeia that Express Mental Restlessness
5. Onomatopoeia that Express Restless Actions and Behaviors
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment
Japanese Onomatopoeia: Words that Express “Restlessness”
Japanese has many onomatopoeic expressions (gitaigo and giongo) that vividly describe actions and feelings.
In this article, we introduce onomatopoeia that express “restlessness.”
What is Onomatopoeia?
Onomatopoeia (擬音語 and 擬態語) is one of the unique features of Japanese. It conveys sounds, states, and emotions in a vivid way that appeals to both sight and hearing.
Among them, onomatopoeia that express “restlessness” are especially diverse. Words like kyoro-kyoro, sowa-sowa, and oro-oro each describe different actions or feelings in a detailed way.
In Japanese, instead of simply saying “落ち着かない (restless),” you can say “そわそわしている (feeling restless)” or “きょろきょろ見回す (looking around restlessly),” which makes the situation and emotions feel more real.
This article introduces commonly used onomatopoeia for expressing “restlessness” in daily conversation, explaining their meanings and usage in an easy-to-understand way.
Onomatopoeia that Express Physical Restlessness
[きょろきょろ/キョロキョロ]
Looking around restlessly because of nervousness or confusion.
[Examples]
初めて日本へ行ったときは、右も左もわからなくてきょろきょろしました。
I went to Japan for the first time, and I looked around because I didn’t know the way.
高そうなレストランに来て、場違いではないかとキョロキョロしてしまいました。
I went to a high-class restaurant and looked around because I felt out of place.
[うろうろ/ウロウロ]
Wandering around aimlessly without knowing the destination or what to do.
[Examples]
駅までの行き方が分からず、ずっとうろうろしています。
I couldn’t find the way to the station and kept walking around aimlessly.
犬が迷子になったのか、ウロウロしています。
The dog seems to be lost and is pacing around.
[まごまご]
① To be confused and not know what to do.
② To waste time or fumble because of being unprepared.
[Examples]
後輩は上司に急に質問されて、答えられずまごまごしていました。（①）
My junior was suddenly asked a question by the boss and didn’t know how to answer, so he got flustered.
準備不足で発表中にまごまごしてしまいました。（②）
I wasn’t well prepared and fumbled during the presentation.
切符売り場でまごまごしている人を見かけました。（①＋②）
I saw someone fumbling at the ticket counter.
Onomatopoeia that Express Mental Restlessness
[そわそわ]
Feeling restless because something is on your mind.
[Examples]
テストの日が近いので、そわそわしてしまいます。
I’m getting nervous because the exam day is near.
兄は初めてのデートに緊張して、そわそわしています。
My brother is nervous about his first date and is fidgeting.
[ざわざわ]
Feeling uneasy or disturbed due to anxiety, nervousness, or fear.
[Examples]
子供が帰って来なくて、何かあったのではないかと胸がざわざわします。
My child hasn’t come home, and my heart is restless, worrying that something might have happened.
この森は人がいなくてあまりに静かなので、心がざわざわします。
This forest is so quiet and empty that it makes me feel uneasy.
[もじもじ]
Acting shy or hesitant, unable to speak or act clearly due to embarrassment or restraint.
[Examples]
子供は人見知りで、近所の人が話しかけてももじもじしています。
The child is shy and gets nervous when neighbors talk to him.
シャイなせいで、いつも言いたいことを言えず、もじもじしてしまいます。
Because I’m shy, I can never say what I want and just fidget awkwardly.
[こせこせ]
Being overly concerned with trivial matters, showing a lack of composure.
[Examples]
彼はお金の計算ばかりして、なんだかこせこせしています。
He is always focused on money and acts in a petty way.
あの人は時間にこせこせしていて、1分の遅れも許さないんだよ。
That person is so particular about time that he won’t allow even a one-minute delay.
Onomatopoeia that Express Restless Actions and Behaviors
[そそくさ]
Acting in a hurried and restless way, often used when someone quickly leaves.
[Examples]
授業が終わると、彼は挨拶もせずそそくさと出ていきました。
When the class ended, he hurried out without even saying goodbye.
晩ごはんを食べ終わると、父はそそくさと書斎へ戻っていきました。
After dinner, my father slipped back to his study.
[わたわた]
Being confused and flustered, panicking with no composure because of surprise or anxiety.
[Examples]
大事な書類を失くしたようで、後輩がわたわた探し始めました。
It looks like my junior lost an important document and started rushing around in a panic.
クレーム対応が苦手で、いつもわたわたしてしまいます。
I’m not good at dealing with complaints, so I always get flustered and confused.
[おろおろ]
Feeling shaken and confused, not knowing what to do due to anxiety or distress.
[Examples]
事故を目の前にして、どうしたらいいのか分からず、ただおろおろしていました。
Faced with the accident, I didn’t know what to do and just panicked.
子供が突然熱を出して、母親はおろおろしていました。
When her child suddenly got a fever, the mother didn’t know what to do and was at a loss.
Summary
| Types | Words | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical restlessness | きょろきょろ | Looking around nervously in many directions |
| うろうろ | Wandering aimlessly | |
| まごまご | Being confused and unable to decide / fumbling and wasting time | |
| Mental restlessness | そわそわ | Feeling restless because of worry |
| ざわざわ | Feeling uneasy or disturbed by anxiety or tension | |
| もじもじ | Acting shy and reserved because of embarrassment | |
| こせこせ | Being petty and lacking composure, overly worried about small things | |
| Restless actions and behaviors | そそくさ | Acting in a hurried and restless way |
| わたわた | Panicking and flustered in confusion | |
| おろおろ | Not knowing what to do due to anxiety or distress |
Similer Articles
- Must-Know for Foreigners Working in Japan: Do You Really Need a Hanko (Personal Seal)?
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English②
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English①
- Learning the Forms of Japanese from Classical Literature
- Idioms Using “頭” ② – Useful in Everyday Conversations
