Entry
ドキドキ
dokidoki
A word that mimics the sound and feeling of a fast-beating heart due to nervousness, excitement, or fear.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Dokidoki is a sound-symbolic word (onomatopoeia) representing a heart beating faster than usual. It is used to describe both the physical reaction of the heart and the psychological states that cause it, such as nervousness, tension, anticipation, excitement, or fear.
- fast heartbeat (physical)
- nervousness or excitement (emotional)
Sense Map
Fast Heartbeat
Describes a heart beating rapidly due to physical exertion, surprise, or health conditions.
走ったから胸がドキドキしている。
Nervous or Excited
Describes feeling tense, anxious, or highly anticipatory, causing one's heart to pound.
面接の前にドキドキする。
Usage Note
How to Use
ドキドキする
Used as a verb to state that someone is feeling nervous or their heart is pounding.
ドキドキしている
The progressive form indicating an ongoing state of nervousness or heart-pounding.
胸がドキドキする
Combines with the word chest (mune) to emphasize the physical sensation inside the chest.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ドキドキする
to be nervous / to have one's heart pound
胸がドキドキする
one's chest is pounding
心臓がドキドキする
one's heart is beating fast
ドキドキしながら
while feeling nervous / with a pounding heart
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nervousness | neutral | Describes natural anxiety before an important event like an exam or interview. |
| Fear | negative | Can be used for a heart pounding out of fear or shock, like when watching a horror film. |
| Romance | positive | Commonly appears in media to describe the heart-pounding feeling near a crush. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
きゅん きゅん / similar | Used when feeling a sudden emotional tightening in the chest from being moved or falling in love. | Does not describe a literal, continuous fast heartbeat like ドキドキ. | 胸がきゅんとする。 |
どくっ どくっ / similar | Used for a single, strong, sudden heartbeat, often from shock or realization. | Represents only one thud, not a continuous rapid beating like ドキドキ. | 心臓がドクッと鳴った。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ドキドキ for inanimate objects vibrating.
ドキドキ is strictly for the heartbeat of living things or feelings of human nervousness/excitement.
Thinking it only means being excited in a positive way.
It can also mean being nervous, scared, or anxious, depending on the context.
Examples
Examples
走ったから、まだ胸がドキドキしている。
はしったから、まだむねがドキドキしている。
My chest is still pounding because I ran.
LiteralLiteral use for a fast heartbeat due to physical exercise.
明日は面接があるので、今からドキドキしています。
あしたはめんせつがあるので、いまからドキドキしています。
I have an interview tomorrow, so I'm already feeling nervous.
FigurativeDescribes anxiety and tension before an important event.
好きな人と話すときは、いつもドキドキする。
すきなひととはなすときは、いつもドキドキする。
My heart always pounds when I talk to the person I like.
FigurativeA common romantic context for nervous excitement.
ドキドキしながら、ホラー映画を見た。
ドキドキしながら、ホラーえいがをみた。
I watched the horror movie with a pounding heart.
FigurativeDemonstrates usage for intense fear or suspense.
大きな音がして、心臓がどきどきした。
おおきなおとがして、しんぞうがどきどきした。
There was a loud noise and my heart beat fast.
LiteralUses the hiragana variant with the noun for heart (shinzou).
Similar Words
ドクッ
doku
A single strong sudden heartbeat.
Questions
Is ドキドキ positive or negative?
It can be either. Depending on context, it can mean nervous (negative/neutral), scared (negative), or enthusiastically in love (positive).
What is the difference between ドキドキ and ワクワク?
ワクワク (wakuwaku) is exclusively for positive excitement and anticipation, while ドキドキ focuses on the fast heartbeat itself, which could be from joy, but also from fear or anxiety.
Can I use どきどき (hiragana)?
Yes. Using hiragana is quite common and sometimes conveys a lighter or more intimate emotional nuance compared to katakana.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1009050
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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- ドッキリ (dokkiri)