Entry
チラリ
chirari
Describes the action of looking at something briefly or something appearing for a fleeting moment.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word captures the moment of a quick glance or a brief, fleeting glimpse. It is used when someone looks at something for only a split second, or when an object is momentarily visible before disappearing.
- Glancing briefly (intentional)
- Catching a glimpse (unintentional)
Sense Map
Brief Glance
The intentional act of looking at something or someone very quickly without staring.
時計をチラリと見る
Fleeting Glimpse
The state of something being visible only for a split second, often through a gap or opening.
隙間からチラリと見える
Usage Note
How to Use
チラリと + verb
The standard pattern for describing a momentary look or appearance.
チラリ + verb
How to Use
Common Phrases
チラリと見る
To glance at; to look briefly
チラリと見えた
Caught a fleeting glimpse of
横目でチラリと
To glance sideways briefly
チラリと振り返る
To glance back quickly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Looking at a person | neutral/stealthy | Often implies stealing a glance discreetly or glancing out of curiosity. |
| Checking an object | neutral | Indicates checking something quickly, like a watch or a phone screen, without losing focus on the main task. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちらっと ちらっと / similar | Used in the exact same situations for brief glances or glimpses, but is slightly more casual. | ちらっと is very common in everyday speech, while チラリ has a slightly more literary or descriptive tone, though both are widely used. | ちらっと見た |
じろじろ じろじろ / opposite | Used when staring intently or rudely at someone or something. | It is the direct opposite; じろじろ means to stare fixedly for a long time, whereas チラリ is a mere split-second look. | じろじろ見る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using チラリ to mean 'fast' for actions like running or eating.
チラリ is strictly limited to vision (looking, seeing, appearing) and cannot describe the speed of physical motion.
Confusing it with チカチカ (chikachika).
チカチカ is for flashing or flickering lights, while チラリ is about catching a glimpse of something.
Examples
Examples
彼女は私をチラリと見た。
彼女(かのじょ)は私(わたし)をチラリと見(み)た。
She glanced at me briefly.
LiteralUsed when someone looks at another person very quickly.
彼は時計をチラリと確認した。
彼(かれ)は時計(とけい)をチラリと確認(かくにん)した。
He checked his watch quickly.
LiteralContext of checking information quickly without losing main focus.
カーテンの隙間から外がチラリと見えた。
カーテンの隙間(すきま)から外(そと)がチラリと見(み)えた。
I caught a fleeting glimpse of the outside through the gap in the curtains.
VisualUsed for something seen fleetingly through a gap.
去り際に彼女はチラリと微笑んだ。
去(さ)り際(ぎわ)に彼女(かのじょ)はチラリと微笑(ほほえ)んだ。
As she left, she gave a fleeting smile.
Visualチラリ can also be used for short facial expressions like a quick smile.
山頂が雲の合間からチラリと姿を見せた。
山頂(さんちょう)が雲(くも)の合間(あいま)からチラリと姿(すがた)を見(み)せた。
The mountain peak showed itself briefly through the clouds.
VisualOften used to describe scenery that is only temporarily visible.
Similar Words
ちらっと
chiratto
To see or hear something briefly or by accident. More casual and frequently used in spoken conversation for 'a quick glance'.
じろじろ
jirojiro
To stare at someone or something fixedly and scrutinizingly, often in a rude or intrusive manner. The opposite of チラリ, meaning to stare intently for a long time.
Questions
Can I use チラリ to describe a brief sound?
No, it is exclusively a visual mimetic word for brief sights or glances.
What is the difference between チラリ and ちらっと?
They mean the same thing, but ちらっと is more conversational and colloquial, while チラリ is slightly more descriptive.
Does チラリ imply being sneaky?
Not inherently, but because a glance is quick, it is often used when someone looks at something without wanting to be noticed.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2008960
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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