Entry
チョキチョキ
chokichoki
The rhythmic, light sound of scissors continuously snipping paper or hair.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
An onomatopoeic word that represents the light, rhythmic sound of scissors repeatedly cutting through thin, soft materials like paper, cloth, or hair. It emphasizes a continuous cutting action rather than a single snip.
- Snipping sound
- Cutting lightly and continuously
Sense Map
Snipping Sound/Action
The sound and action of cutting thin materials lightly and repeatedly with scissors.
紙をチョキチョキ切る
Trimming/Clipping
Trimming hair or plants with a light, continuous clipping motion.
髪をチョキチョキ切る
Usage Note
How to Use
チョキチョキ（と）切る
Used as an adverb to describe how something is being cut continuously.
チョキチョキ切る
Another form without 'と', meaning the same: snipping continuously.
チョキチョキする
Used as a verb to mean 'to snip' or 'to cut with scissors'.
How to Use
Common Phrases
髪をチョキチョキ切る
to snip hair
紙をチョキチョキ切る
to cut paper with scissors
ハサミでチョキチョキと
snipping with scissors
チョキチョキする
to snip / to cut
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting thin paper or cloth | neutral | Highlights the crisp, easy continuous action of the scissors. |
| Getting a haircut | neutral | Describes the rhythmic sound of the hairdresser's scissors. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
じょきじょき じょきじょき / similar | When cutting thick, hard, or heavy materials with force. | ジョキジョキ sounds deeper and rougher, whereas チョキチョキ is light and crisp. | 厚紙をジョキジョキ切る |
ちょきん ちょきん / similar | When making a single, sharp cut rather than a continuous snipping action. | チョキン is just one cut, while チョキチョキ is repeated snipping. | 糸をチョキンと切る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for chopping food with a knife.
チョキチョキ is specifically for scissors, not knives.
Using it for cutting down a tree.
It is only for thin, soft materials. For trees or thick objects, other words are used.
Examples
Examples
美容師さんがハサミで髪をチョキチョキと切ってくれた。
びようしさんがハサミでかみをチョキチョキときってくれた。
The hairdresser snipped my hair with a rhythmic sound.
VisualDescribes the sound of a hairdresser's scissors.
子供が色紙をチョキチョキ切って、星の形を作っている。
こどもがいろがみをチョキチョキきって、ほしのかたちをつくっている。
The child is snipping colored paper to make a star shape.
VisualShows the continuous action of snipping paper.
伸びた枝をハサミでチョキチョキと整える。
のびたえだをハサミでチョキチョキとととのえる。
Trimming the overgrown branches by snipping them with scissors.
VisualUsed for the action of trimming thin parts of a plant.
彼は新聞の気になる記事をチョキチョキ切り抜いた。
かれはしんぶんのきになるきじをチョキチョキきりぬいた。
He snipped out the interesting article from the newspaper.
VisualThe action of cutting something specific out of a piece of paper.
工作の時間、みんな無言で紙をチョキチョキしていた。
こうさくのじかん、みんなむごんでかみをチョキチョキしていた。
During arts and crafts time, everyone was snipping paper in silence.
LiteralEmphasizes the sound of scissors heard in a quiet room.
Similar Words
ジョキジョキ
jokijoki
A heavier, deeper cutting sound for thick objects.
チョキン
chokin
A single sharp snip, not continuous.
Questions
Can I use チョキチョキ for chopping vegetables?
No, チョキチョキ is only used for cutting with scissors, like snipping paper or hair. For chopping vegetables, you would use words like トントン.
What is the difference between チョキチョキ and ジョキジョキ?
チョキチョキ is a light sound for cutting thin materials, while ジョキジョキ is a heavy sound for cutting thick or hard objects.
Can チョキチョキ be used as a verb?
Yes, you can say チョキチョキする to mean 'to snip' or 'to cut with scissors'.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1078250
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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- ちくり (chikuri)
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