Entry
ハフハフ
hafuhafu
Alternately sucking in and blowing out air to cool down piping hot food in one's mouth.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
ハフハフ is a mimetic word representing the sound and action of rapidly breathing air in and out of the mouth to cool down piping hot food. It is commonly used when eating dishes like oden, takoyaki, or steamed buns to avoid burning one's tongue while chewing. It also conveys a lively and appetizing scene of eagerly enjoying a freshly cooked, steaming meal.
- Cooling hot food in the mouth
- Eating hot food enthusiastically
Sense Map
Cooling Food in the Mouth
The physical action and sound of breathing air in and out to cool down food that is already in the mouth and too hot to chew comfortably.
出来立てのコロッケをハフハフする。
Enjoying Hot Meals
The lively atmosphere of happily enjoying piping hot food, showing an appetizing eagerness despite the heat.
熱々のたこ焼きをハフハフ食べる。
Usage Note
How to Use
ハフハフする
Used as a verb to describe the action of cooling hot food inside the mouth.
ハフハフしながら
An adverbial phrase meaning 'while cooling food in the mouth', typically preceding verbs like eating or chewing.
ハフハフ（と）食べる
Acts as an adverb modifying the action of eating, describing the manner of eating while puffing air.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ハフハフしながら食べる
to eat while cooling food in the mouth
おでんをハフハフする
to cool hot oden in the mouth
出来立てをハフハフ食べる
to eat freshly made food while cooling it in the mouth
ハフハフしながら頬張る
to stuff one's cheeks while puffing air to cool the food
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eating winter dishes (oden, nabe) | positive | Evokes a cozy, comfortable scene of enjoying warm food during the cold season. |
| Eating street food (takoyaki, taiyaki) | positive | Highlights the eater's enthusiasm to immediately enjoy freshly cooked, steaming food. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ふーふー ふーふー / contrast | Used for blowing on hot food before putting it in your mouth. | フーフー is blowing on food outside the mouth, while ハフハフ is cooling it down while it is already inside. | スープをフーフーして冷ます。 |
ほやほや ほやほや / similar | Used to describe the state of food being freshly made and still steaming. | ほやほや focuses on the condition of the food, whereas ハフハフ focuses on the action of eating it. | できたてほやほやのパン。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe a reaction to spicy food.
ハフハフ is strictly for temperature-hot food. For spicy food, use ヒーヒー or ハーハー.
Using it for the action of blowing on a bowl of soup.
If you are blowing on food before eating it, use フーフー instead.
Examples
Examples
おでんが熱くて、ハフハフしながら食べた。
おでんが あつくて、 ハフハフ しながら たべた。
The oden was hot, so I ate it while breathing in and out to cool it down.
LiteralDescribes the action of cooling food down inside the mouth.
出来立てのコロッケをハフハフする。
できたての コロッケを ハフハフ する。
Cooling a freshly made croquette inside the mouth.
LiteralUsed directly as a verb for the activity.
冬の屋台で熱々のたこ焼きをハフハフ食べるのが好きだ。
ふゆの やたいで あつあつの たこやきを ハフハフ たべるのが すきだ。
I like eating piping hot takoyaki while puffing air at a winter food stall.
VisualShows the atmosphere of enjoying warm food.
彼は焼きたてのピザをハフハフと食べている。
かれは やきたての ピザを ハフハフと たべている。
He is eating freshly baked pizza while breathing in and out.
VisualAs an adverb showing the manner of eating.
肉まんをハフハフしながら頬張る。
にくまんを ハフハフ しながら ほおばる。
Stuffing one's cheeks with a meat bun while puffing to cool it down.
LiteralCombined with another verb to show two simultaneous actions.
Similar Words
フーフー
fuufuu
The sound of blowing to cool something hot, heavy panting, or struggling with a hard task. フーフー is blowing on food before putting it in your mouth, while ハフハフ is inside the mouth.
ほやほや
hoyahoya
Describes something that is freshly made and piping hot, or someone who has just recently acquired a new status. Describes the freshly made condition of the food, not the action of eating.
ぱくぱく
pakupaku
Describes the repeated opening and closing of a mouth, or the action of eating heartily and continuously.
Questions
Is doing ハフハフ considered bad manners in Japan?
No, it is generally seen as a natural reaction to hot food and often makes the dish look appetizing. However, doing it too loudly in formal settings might be seen as impolite.
Can I use ハフハフ for eating ramen?
Ramen is usually cooled by blowing on it (フーフー) or slurped directly (ズルズル). ハフハフ is better suited for solid, thick foods like takoyaki, oden, or steamed buns.
What is the exact difference between ハフハフ and フーフー?
フーフー is blowing air out to cool the food before you eat it. ハフハフ is the combination of puffing and chewing once the food is inside your mouth.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2848551
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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