Entry
こちょこちょ
kochokocho
Tickling someone playfully, whispering in someone's ear, or restlessly fiddling with something.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word primarily describes a light, playful tickling action, often accompanied by the phrase "kitchy-koo!". It can also refer to the hushed act of whispering secrets into someone's ear, or moving one's hands restlessly to fiddle with small objects.
- Tickling playfully
- Whispering secretly
- Fiddling restlessly
Sense Map
Tickling playfully
Describes the light, playful action of tickling someone, usually a baby or child, often accompanied by a cheerful vocalization.
赤ちゃんのお腹をこちょこちょとくすぐる。
Whispering secretly
Describes the act of speaking in a very quiet voice or whispering in someone's ear, often to share secrets.
友達とこちょこちょ内緒話をする。
Fiddling restlessly
Describes restless hand movements or continuously fiddling with small objects nearby.
手元のペンをこちょこちょいじる。
Usage Note
How to Use
こちょこちょする
Used as a verb meaning to tickle, whisper, or fiddle.
こちょこちょ（と）くすぐる
Used to specifically describe the action of tickling someone playfully.
こちょこちょ（と）＋動詞
Modifies verbs like 'to talk' (話す) or 'to fiddle' (いじる) to indicate doing them in a small, restless manner.
How to Use
Common Phrases
こちょこちょくすぐる
to tickle playfully
こちょこちょする
to tickle / to fiddle
こちょこちょいじる
to fiddle with something
こちょこちょ内緒話をする
to whisper secrets
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tickling a baby or child | positive | Used playfully to induce laughter. It feels gentle and affectionate, unlike aggressive tickling. |
| Whispering | neutral | Implies a very quiet, secretive tone, often between close friends. |
| Fiddling with hands | slightly negative | Can imply that the person is restless, unable to stay still, or mildly distracted. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちょこちょこ ちょこちょこ / similar | When taking small, quick steps or doing things little by little. | It focuses on walking or making brief, small actions, not tickling or whispering. | ちょこちょこ歩く |
ちょこまか ちょこまか / similar | When moving around restlessly or rapidly in a small area. | It implies a potentially annoying continuous motion of the whole body, rather than just hand fiddling. | ちょこまか動く |
そわそわ そわそわ / contrast | When someone is mentally uneasy, nervous, or anxiously anticipating something. | It describes a mental state of anxiety or excitement, not the physical action of tickling or fiddling. | そわそわする |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe severe itching from a bug bite.
"こちょこちょ" is for playful tickling done by someone. For itching, use "かゆい" or "むずむず".
Using it to describe someone who is nervous about a test.
Use "そわそわ" for mental nervousness. "こちょこちょ" is for physical fiddling.
Examples
Examples
赤ちゃんのお腹をこちょこちょとくすぐって笑わせた。
あかちゃんのおなかをこちょこちょとくすぐってわらわせた。
I tickled the baby's belly and made them laugh.
LiteralDescribes the physical action of light, playful tickling.
教室の後ろで、二人がこちょこちょと内緒話をしている。
きょうしつのうしろで、ふたりがこちょこちょとないしょばなしをしている。
The two of them are whispering secrets to each other in the back of the classroom.
LiteralDescribes the act of whispering in a very quiet voice.
面接の間、彼は緊張して手元のペンをこちょこちょいじっていた。
めんせつのあいだ、かれはきんちょうしててもとのペンをこちょこちょいじっていた。
During the interview, he nervously fiddled with the pen in his hand.
VisualDescribes the restless hand movement of fiddling with an object.
「こちょこちょ！」と言いながら、子供の足の裏を触った。
「こちょこちょ！」といいながら、こどものあしのうらをさわった。
Saying "Kitchy-koo!", I touched the soles of the child's feet.
LiteralUsed as a playful vocalization while tickling someone.
お父さんが息子をベッドの上でこちょこちょしている。
おとうさんがむすこをベッドのうえでこちょこちょしている。
The father is tickling his son on the bed.
LiteralShows the direct action of tickling used as a verb.
Similar Words
ちょこちょこ
chokochoko
Describes moving with small, quick steps like a toddler, or doing something frequently in small amounts. For small, quick steps or movements.
ちょこまか
chokomaka
ちょこまか describes moving around restlessly with small, quick, and continuous steps. For quick and restless physical movements.
そわそわ
sowasowa
A state of being restless, fidgety, or unable to calm down due to anticipation, nervousness, or excitement. For mental nervousness or anxiety.
Questions
Does "kocho-kocho" only mean tickling?
No, while playful tickling is its most common meaning, it can also describe whispering quietly in someone's ear or restlessly fiddling with something.
Is there a difference between "kocho-kocho" and "kusuguru"?
"Kusuguru" is the standard verb for "to tickle". "Kocho-kocho" is the mimetic word describing the playful sound or feeling of the action, often used together as "kocho-kocho kusuguru".
Can I use this for adults?
For tickling, it's mostly used with babies or young children. However, using it to mean "whispering" or "fiddling" applies to adults naturally.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2646200
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- ぷるん (purun)
- Next entry
- ごそり (gosori)