ONO.JEPANG.ORG

Entry

ごくっ

goku

The sound or action of gulping a drink or swallowing heavily.

Meaning

Quick Meaning

An onomatopoeic word that represents the audible sound or physical movement of swallowing a large amount of liquid at once, or swallowing saliva due to tension, fear, or nervousness.

  • Taking a large gulp of a drink
  • Swallowing saliva out of nervousness

Sense Map

Drinking

The sound or movement of taking a large, solid gulp of a liquid.

冷たい水をごくっと飲む。

Nervousness

The act of audibly swallowing saliva when feeling tense, frightened, or anticipatory.

緊張して生唾をごくっと飲み込む。

Usage Note

How to Use

  • ごくっと + verb (e.g., 飲む, 飲み込む)

    Used as an adverbial modifier with verbs related to drinking (飲む) or swallowing (飲み込む) to emphasize the sound or single action of the gulp.

How to Use

Common Phrases

ごくっと飲む

drink with a gulp

つばをごくっと飲み込む

swallow saliva (nervously)

喉をごくっと鳴らす

make a gulping sound in the throat

水をごくっと飲む

take a single gulp of water

Nuance

Context Nuance

Common ContextsNuanceUsage Note
Drinking a refreshing beverage.PositiveConveys a sense of relief and satisfaction when quenching one's thirst with a solid gulp.
Feeling nervous or intimidated.Neutral/NegativeIndicates physical anxiety, expressing the involuntary action of swallowing saliva before doing something difficult.

Similar Words

Comparison Table

Similar WordsWhen to UseNot the Same asMini Example

ごっくん

ごっくん / similar

Focuses on the solid completion of swallowing; often used by or toward children when coaxing them to swallow food or medicine.Goku' emphasizes the sharp sound of a single gulp or the momentary tension, rather than the complete act of sending something down the throat.牛乳をごっくんと飲む。

がぶがぶ

がぶがぶ / similar

Used when someone is continuously chugging or drinking a large amount of liquid rapidly.Goku' represents just a single gulp, whereas gabugabu implies continuous, repeated drinking.水をがぶがぶ飲む。

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Using 'goku'' for sipping a drink slowly.

Goku' implies a solid, heavy gulp. For sipping, you should use ちびちび (chibichibi).

Using 'goku'' to describe chewing food.

Goku' is exclusively for liquids or swallowing. For chewing, use もぐもぐ (mogumogu).

Examples

Examples

彼はグラスのビールをごくっと飲んだ。

かれは グラスの ビールを ごくっと のんだ。

He took a large gulp of the beer in his glass.

LiteralDescribes the actual sound and action of gulping a refreshing drink.

Source: Internal

緊張のあまり、思わず生唾をごくっと飲み込んだ。

きんちょうの あまり、 おもわず なまつばを ごくっと のみこんだ。

I was so nervous that I instinctively swallowed my saliva with a gulp.

LiteralFocuses on the physical bodily reaction to extreme nervousness.

Source: Internal

喉が渇いていたので、冷たい水をごくっと飲んだ。

のどが かわいていた ので、 つめたい みずを ごくっと のんだ。

Because I was thirsty, I gulped down the cold water.

LiteralA common casual use to show the act of relieving thirst with a single big gulp.

Source: Internal

面接の前に、彼女はごくっと喉を鳴らした。

めんせつの まえに、 かのじょは ごくっと のどを ならした。

Before the interview, she made a gulping sound in her throat.

LiteralFocuses on the audible sound of swallowing caused by tension.

Source: Internal

薬を水と一緒にごくっと飲み込む。

くすりを みずと いっしょに ごくっと のみこむ。

Swallow the medicine down with water in one gulp.

LiteralDescribes the action of taking medicine all at once so it goes down quickly.

Source: Internal

Similar Words

Questions

Can I use 'goku'' for animals drinking water?

Yes, but it usually implies a single, noticeably large gulp or human-like audible swallowing.

What is the difference between 'goku'' and 'gokugoku'?

Goku' is a single gulp, while gokugoku indicates a series of continuous gulps.

Is it polite to say 'goku'' in formal settings?

Goku' is an onomatopoeia and is generally considered casual. It should be avoided in very formal speeches or business writing.

Source Details

Entry ID
2777860
Source
JMdict_english
Revision
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Review notes
No special notes
Active language
English
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