Entry
ふっくら
fukkura
Describes something that is soft, fluffy, and pleasantly full or plump.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes things that are soft, puffed up, and have volume. It carries a very positive nuance of comfort or deliciousness, often used for freshly baked bread, perfectly cooked rice, fluffy bedding, or healthy, plump cheeks.
- Fluffy cooked food
- Soft padded items
- Plump physical features
Sense Map
Food & Objects
Soft, fluffy, and puffed up (like bread, rice, or futons).
パンがふっくらと焼き上がる。
Physical Appearance
Plump, full, and healthy (like human cheeks).
ふっくらとした頬の赤ちゃん。
Usage Note
How to Use
ふっくらする
Used as a verb to describe the process of something becoming plump, thick, or puffed up.
ふっくらした + noun
Modifies a noun to describe it directly as soft, plump, or full, such as fluffy bread or soft cheeks.
ふっくらと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action occurs, often paired with cooking verbs.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ふっくらとしたパン
Fluffy baked bread
ご飯がふっくら炊ける
Rice cooked up soft and fluffy
ふっくらとした頬
Plump cheeks
ふっくらした布団
A soft, puffed-up futon
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Food (bread, rice, fish) | positive | Emphasizes a soft, perfectly puffed texture that looks delicious. Often used for freshly cooked or baked foods. |
| Human body (cheeks, hands) | positive | Emphasizes health, youth, and softness. Typically used as a compliment for babies or children, not to describe general obesity. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ふわふわ ふわふわ / similar | Use for things that are extremely light, airy, and floaty, without much weight or density. | ふっくら implies a certain amount of volume, fullness, and substance, while ふわふわ focuses purely on airiness and lack of weight. | ふわふわの綿菓子 |
ぽってり ぽってり / contrast | Use for things that are thick, heavy, and round, often with a slightly viscous or fleshy quality. | ふっくら is soft, airy, and strictly positive, whereas ぽってり implies something noticeably heavier, thicker, or plumper in a dense way. | ぽってりとした唇 |
ほくほく ほくほく / similar | Use for hot, starchy, and flaky foods like freshly baked potatoes or chestnuts. | ほくほく specifically requires high heat and a crumbly or flaky texture, while ふっくら focuses on soft, pillowy fullness regardless of temperature. | ほくほくの焼き芋 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ふっくら for swelling caused by an injury or illness.
ふっくら has a positive, healthy nuance. For painful swelling like a sprained ankle, use words like 腫れる (hareru).
Using ふっくら for extremely light, airy things like clouds or cotton candy in the sky.
Use ふわふわ (fuwafuwa) instead. ふっくら implies a certain amount of dense substance, volume, or fleshiness.
Examples
Examples
パンがふっくらと焼き上がりました。
パンがふっくらとやきあがりました。
The bread has baked up soft and fluffy.
LiteralFocuses on the state of the bread after baking, where it has expanded beautifully and is soft inside.
お米をふっくら炊くコツを教えてください。
おこめをふっくらたくコツをおしえてください。
Please teach me the secret to cooking rice so it turns out soft and fluffy.
LiteralUses 'fukkura' to describe the ideal outcome of cooking rice: each grain is plump and soft.
その赤ちゃんはふっくらとした頬をしています。
そのあかちゃんはふっくらとしたほほをしています。
That baby has plump, adorable cheeks.
VisualA classic example showing a healthy, plump physical appearance. It is very positive and highly common for babies.
天日干しにした布団はふっくらしていて気持ちいい。
てんぴぼしにしたふとんはふっくらしていてきもちいい。
A futon dried in the sun is fluffy and feels great.
VisualDescribes the puffed-up, fluffy effect on padded fabric items like bedding after they have been aired in the sun.
魚の身がふっくらとしていて美味しい。
さかなのみがふっくらとしていておいしい。
The fish meat is plump and soft, making it delicious.
LiteralOften used in food contexts to praise the texture of cooked seafood or meat that has retained its moisture and soft volume without becoming hard.
Similar Words
ふかふか
fukafuka
Describes something voluminous, resilient, and pleasantly soft to the touch, like a thick futon or freshly baked bread.
ふわふわ
fuwafuwa
Fuwafuwa describes things that are light, airy, and soft to the touch, or things that float and drift gently. Focuses on extreme lightness and airiness without much dense substance.
ほくほく
hokuhoku
Describes the texture of freshly cooked, hot, and starchy foods, or the state of beaming with inner satisfaction and joy. Specifically relates to hot, starchy, and flaky food textures.
ぽってり
potteri
Describes a physically thick, plump shape or a heavy, viscous liquid. Describes something that is thicker, heavier, and roundly dense.
Questions
Can I use ふっくら to describe someone who is overweight?
Usually no. While it can mean plump, it has a very positive, cute nuance mainly used for babies' cheeks or soft hands. For describing an overweight person, words like ぽっちゃり (potchari) are more common.
What is the difference between ふっくら and ふかふか for a bed?
Both can describe a soft bed or futon. ふっくら focuses on the visible thickness and volume, while ふかふか focuses more on the deeply soft, plush feeling when you sink into it.
Does ふっくら only apply to hot foods?
No. While it is often used for freshly baked bread or hot rice, it can also describe cold things with a plump texture, like certain Japanese sweets (wagashi) or physical features.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2086010
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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