Entry
どかどか
dokadoka
A mimetic word for the loud, heavy sound of footsteps or a crowd of people barging in noisily.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
どかどか (dokadoka) describes the loud, heavy, and often disruptive sound of footsteps. It is commonly used when someone walks heavily or stomps, as well as when a large group of people forcefully and noisily enters a room, bringing a sense of chaos or lack of refinement.
- heavy footsteps
- noisy crowd entering
Sense Map
Heavy Footsteps
Describes the sound of walking with heavy, loud, and forceful steps.
階段をどかどか上る。
Noisy Crowd
Describes a group of people forcefully and noisily barging into or rushing through a place.
部屋に人がどかどか入ってきた。
Usage Note
How to Use
どかどかと ＋ verb (movement)
Used as an adverb with the particle と to describe how an action like walking or entering is performed forcefully.
どかどか ＋ verb
Used directly as an adverb without the particle と, often in casual speech.
How to Use
Common Phrases
どかどかと歩く
walk with heavy footsteps
どかどか入ってくる
barge in noisily
どかどか上る
stomp up the stairs
どかどか押し寄せる
surge in noisily
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entering a room | negative | Implies barging in without knocking or lacking manners. |
| Walking heavily | negative | Shows frustration, anger, or a lack of graceful movement. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
どたどた どたどた / similar | Use to emphasize a clumsy, unrefined, or awkward way of walking with heavy steps. | Unlike どかどか, it is not used to describe a large crowd barging in, but rather the clumsiness of the footsteps. | どたどた走る。 |
どやどや どやどや / similar | Use specifically to describe the sound of footsteps from a large group of people entering at once. | While どかどか can be used for a single person stomping heavily, どやどや always implies a crowd. | どやどやと入る。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe the normal, light sound of high heels or dress shoes.
Use こつこつ for light, hard footsteps. どかどか is specifically for heavy, disruptive stomping.
Using it for a group of people moving quietly and orderly.
This word implies chaos, so only use it when the crowd is noisy and moving forcefully.
Examples
Examples
彼らは部屋にどかどかと入ってきた。
かれらはへやにどかどかとはいってきた。
They barged into the room noisily.
LiteralUsed to show entering without manners.
怒った様子で、階段をどかどか上っていった。
おこったようすで、かいだんをどかどかのぼっていった。
He stomped up the stairs, looking angry.
LiteralShows heavy steps influenced by negative emotions.
セールが始まると、客が店内にどかどか押し寄せた。
セールがはじまると、きゃくがてんないにどかどかおしよせた。
When the sale started, customers surged into the store noisily.
LiteralDescribes a crowd moving forcefully and noisily.
上の階の人がどかどかと歩く音がうるさい。
うえのかいのひとがどかどかとあるくおとがうるさい。
The sound of the person upstairs stomping around is noisy.
LiteralA common context for complaining about disruptive sounds from upstairs.
大男がどかどか歩いてきた。
おおおとこがどかどかあるいてきた。
A large man came walking with heavy footsteps.
LiteralEmphasizes the heavy sound due to large body size.
Similar Words
どたどた
dotadota
This word describes the loud, heavy, and ungraceful sound of footsteps. Focuses more on the clumsiness of the movement.
どやどや
doyadoya
A mimetic word for the noisy sound of a large group of people moving or walking together. Specifically for the sound of a noisy crowd.
Questions
Can どかどか be used to describe animals?
It is mostly used for humans, whether heavily walking individuals or noisy crowds, but it could theoretically describe large animals moving forcefully.
Is どかどか always negative?
Generally yes, because it implies a disruptive, rough action or a lack of manners.
What is the difference between どかどか and どたどた?
Both refer to heavy footsteps, but どたどた sounds more clumsy and unsteady, while どかどか sounds more forceful, disruptive, and often refers to a crowd.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2009180
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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