Entry
ちょこまか
chokomaka
ちょこまか describes moving around restlessly with small, quick, and continuous steps.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word is used for something or someone that constantly moves around with short, rapid movements. It often describes children who can't sit still, small animals like mice scurrying away, or someone moving busily in a small space. It can carry a slight nuance of being annoying or distracting due to the lack of calmness.
- Restless behavior in children
- Scurrying of small animals
- Busy, quick movement
Sense Map
Restless or fidgety movement
Describes a person, especially a child, who constantly moves around and won't stay still.
子供がちょこまか動く。
Scurrying of animals
Describes small animals or insects moving or escaping rapidly with tiny steps.
ネズミがちょこまか逃げる。
Usage Note
How to Use
ちょこまかする
Used as a verb to mean 'to act restlessly' or 'to scurry about'.
ちょこまかと + verb
Acts as an adverb modifying the action, indicating how the movement (like running or moving) is performed.
ちょこまか + verb
The adverbial form without the 'to' particle, very common in everyday speech.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ちょこまか動く
to move around restlessly
ちょこまか走り回る
to run around with small, quick steps
ちょこまかする
to be restless / to fidget
ちょこまか逃げる
to scurry away
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Children | neutral/negative | Often used for kids who won't sit down, which can be viewed as annoying by adults. |
| Small animals | neutral | Perfect for describing how mice, bugs, or squirrels scurry. |
| Adults | negative | When used for adults, it suggests they are moving around distractingly or lacking composure. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちょこちょこ ちょこちょこ / similar | Use ちょこちょこ for small steps that look cute (like a toddler) or actions done little by little. | ちょこまか is more restless, busy, or annoying compared to the cuter ちょこちょこ. | ちょこちょこ歩く。 |
せかせか せかせか / similar | Use せかせか when someone is in a hurry, rushed, or acting hastily because they have no time. | せかせか focuses on the feeling of being rushed (mental or physical), while ちょこまか is purely about the small, continuous physical movements. | せかせか歩く。 |
うろちょろ うろちょろ / similar | Use うろちょろ for aimless wandering, loitering, or pacing around. | うろちょろ implies having no clear destination, whereas ちょこまか describes quick, busy movement regardless of the purpose. | 辺りをうろちょろする。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for mental anxiety without physical movement.
ちょこまか strictly describes physical movement. For purely mental restlessness, use そわそわ (sowasowa) instead.
Applying it to large or slow movements.
It is exclusively for small, quick, and busy motions.
Examples
Examples
子供が部屋の中をちょこまか動いている。
こどもがへやのなかを[ちょこまか]うごいている。
The child is moving restlessly around the room.
VisualHighlights the restless, continuous movement of a child.
ネズミが台所の隅をちょこまかと逃げていった。
ネズミがだいどころのすみを[ちょこまか]とにげていった。
The mouse scurried away along the corner of the kitchen.
VisualVery commonly used for the quick scurrying of small animals.
彼はいつもちょこまかしていて落ち着きがない。
かれはいつも[ちょこまか]していておちつきがない。
He is always restless and can't seem to settle down.
FigurativeDescribes someone's underlying restless personality or habit.
狭い店内で店員がちょこまか働いている。
せまいてんないでてんいんが[ちょこまか]はたらいている。
The clerk is working busily, moving around the small store.
VisualFocuses on busy, quick movement within a confined space.
足元をちょこまかされると邪魔だ。
あしもとを[ちょこまか]されるとじゃまだ。
It's annoying when someone scurries around underfoot.
FigurativeShows annoyance at the distracting movement from the speaker's perspective.
Similar Words
ちょこちょこ
chokochoko
Describes moving with small, quick steps like a toddler, or doing something frequently in small amounts. Both involve small steps, but chokochoko is cuter and less frantic.
せかせか
sekaseka
Sekaseka describes moving, acting, or speaking in a hurried, restless, and agitated manner. sekaseka is feeling rushed, chokomaka is physical scurrying.
うろちょろ
urochoro
Wandering or moving around aimlessly and restlessly, often in a way that is distracting or gets in the way. urochoro is aimless wandering, chokomaka is busy/quick movement.
Questions
Is ちょこまか a negative word?
Not necessarily, but it often implies the movement is distracting or gets on someone's nerves. For animals, it is completely neutral.
Can I use it for a fast car?
No. It only applies to living things, particularly small bodies or small footsteps, not vehicles.
What is the difference between ちょこまか and ちょこちょこ?
ちょこちょこ is often cuter (like a baby walking), while ちょこまか implies a busy, restless, or frantic energy.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2394780
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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