Entry
ほっこり
hokkori
This word describes a physically warm and soft texture, as well as a heart-warming feeling of relaxation or relief.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Hokkori is traditionally used to describe freshly cooked, warm, and fluffy food like sweet potatoes. More commonly today, it expresses a psychological state of feeling relaxed, heart-warmed, or experiencing a pleasant sigh of relief after a long effort or seeing something endearing.
- Warm and fluffy food texture.
- Heart-warming, relaxed, and relieved feelings.
Sense Map
Food Texture (Warm & Fluffy)
Describes freshly prepared food that is pleasantly warm, soft, and comforting to eat.
ほっこりした焼き芋
Emotion (Heart-warming & Relieved)
Describes a calm, happy, and heart-warmed state of mind, typically after seeing something touching or resting from fatigue.
ほっこりする話
Usage Note
How to Use
ほっこりする
Used as a verb to indicate the action of feeling heart-warmed or relieved.
ほっこりした + noun
Used to modify a noun, describing something that induces a warm and cozy feeling, like a story or atmosphere.
ほっこりと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action takes place, often relating to food cooking softly.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ほっこりする映画
heart-warming movie
ほっこりした気分
warm and relaxed feeling
心がほっこりする
one's heart feels warmed or relieved
ほっこりと炊き上がる
to be cooked soft and fluffy
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Watching a cute pet video. | positive | Very commonly used to express a heart-melting, warmed feeling caused by something adorable and innocent. |
| Taking a tea break after hard work. | positive | Indicates a sense of pleasant, tired relief where the body and mind slowly let go of fatigue. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ほくほく ほくほく / similar | Use for food that is soft, warm, and crumbly (like baked potatoes), or when someone is feeling extremely pleased and smug. | Hokuhoku focuses heavily on a crumbly texture or a sense of self-satisfaction, whereas hokkori is more about gentle emotional warmth and touching relief. | ほくほくのじゃがいも |
ほっと ほっと / similar | Use when you feel relieved because a source of anxiety, tension, or a problem has passed. | Hotto purely describes the sudden relief from lost tension, whereas hokkori implies a lingering emotional warmth and cozy relaxation. | ほっと一息つく |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using hokkori to describe warm weather.
Hokkori is never used for air temperature or the weather. You must use 暖かい (atatakai) for warm weather.
Thinking hokkori only applies to potatoes or food.
In modern Japanese, it is much more commonly used for heartwarming emotions, cute things, and relaxing atmospheres than for food.
Examples
Examples
温かいお茶を飲むと、ほっこりする。
あたたかい おちゃ を のむ と、 ほっこり する。
Drinking hot tea makes me feel relaxed and cozy.
FigurativeFocuses on the feeling of relief and relaxation during a break.
子犬の動画を見て、ほっこりした気分になった。
こいぬ の どうが を みて、 ほっこり した きぶん に なった。
I felt a heartwarming feeling after watching the puppy video.
FigurativeShows emotional warmth from seeing something sweet.
おばあちゃんから、ほっこりする話を聞いた。
おばあちゃん から、 ほっこり する はなし を きいた。
I heard a heart-warming story from my grandma.
FigurativeUsed to describe a story or piece of content.
このカフェはほっこりした雰囲気がある。
この カフェ は ほっこり した ふんいき が ある。
This cafe has a warm and cozy atmosphere.
FigurativeDescribes a relaxing and comfortable place.
さつまいもがほっこりと焼き上がった。
さつまいも が ほっこり と やきあがった。
The sweet potato is baked soft and warm.
LiteralOriginal use for soft and warm food.
Similar Words
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. Also for warm and soft food, but 'hokuhoku' focuses more on crumbly textures (like potatoes) and a feeling of self-satisfaction.
ほっと
hotto
A profound feeling of relief when tension, anxiety, or danger passes. Indicates relief because tension or a problem is gone, without the specific warm emotional nuance of hokkori.
Questions
Is hokkori the same as atatakai?
No. 'Atatakai' is the standard word for physical temperature or weather. 'Hokkori' is a descriptive sound word (mimetic) specifically for soft, fluffy food textures or a cozy, heart-warmed emotional state.
Is hokkori formal language?
No, it is a fairly casual and friendly word. It is perfect for daily conversations, blogs, or social media, but not suitable for formal business documents.
When is the best time to use this word?
Use it when you see something sweet (like a baby or a puppy), hear a touching story, or when you finally sit down with a hot drink to relax.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2096640
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
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- Active language
- English
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