Entry
クラクラ
kurakura
A sensation of dizziness or vertigo where the head feels like it is spinning, or the appearance of water boiling vigorously.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This term primarily describes an internal physical sensation of lightheadedness or dizziness, often caused by illness, heatstroke, or standing up too quickly. It can also describe the visual state of water bubbling energetically in a pot.
- The feeling of one's head spinning or dizziness.
- The visual of water boiling with intense bubbles.
Sense Map
Physical Condition
Describes a feeling of vertigo or lightheadedness, making one feel unstable.
熱で頭がクラクラする。
Visual Movement
Describes water or liquid boiling very strongly with many bubbles rising.
お湯がクラクラ沸いている。
Usage Note
How to Use
クラクラする
The most common verb form to state that you feel dizzy right now.
クラクラと
Used as an adverb to describe the manner in which someone feels dizzy or water boils.
クラクラした
Past tense or used as an adjective-like state to describe having felt dizzy.
クラクラして
The te-form used to link sentences or explain a cause (e.g., 'because I felt dizzy...').
How to Use
Common Phrases
頭がクラクラする
my head is spinning
目がクラクラする
my eyes/vision is swimming
お湯がクラクラ沸く
water boils vigorously
暑さでクラクラする
dizzy from the heat
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Health | negative | Indicates a poor physical state like fever or exhaustion. |
| Cooking | neutral | Describes the energetic visual state of boiling liquid. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ふらふら ふらふら / similar | Use when you are unsteady on your feet and likely to fall or stagger. | Focuses on the lack of balance in the legs/body, while kurakura is the spinning sensation in the head. | お酒を飲んでふらふら歩く。 |
ぐらぐら ぐらぐら / nearby | Use for physical shaking of objects, like a loose tooth or a building during an earthquake. | Describes the wobbling of an object, not the internal dizziness of a person. | 地震で家がグラグラ揺れる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using kurakura to describe a shaking building.
Use guragura (グラグラ) for external physical shaking.
Thinking kurakura means a simple headache.
Kurakura is specifically vertigo or dizziness, not the pain of a headache (zuzuu).
Examples
Examples
高い熱のせいで頭がクラクラする。
たかいねつのせいであたまがクラクラする。
My head is spinning because of a high fever.
LiteralDescribes the physical sensation of dizziness due to illness.
炎天下でずっと立っていたら、頭がクラクラしてきた。
えんてんかですっとたっていたら、あたまがクラクラしてきた。
I started to feel dizzy after standing in the blazing sun for a long time.
LiteralUsed for heat exhaustion or heatstroke symptoms.
あまりの美しさに、頭がクラクラしてしまった。
あまりのうつくしさに、あたまがクラクラしてしまった。
I felt lightheaded because it was so incredibly beautiful.
FigurativeDescribes being deeply overwhelmed or charmed.
鍋の中で、お湯がクラクラと沸騰している。
なべのなかで、おゆがクラクラとふっとうしている。
The water is boiling vigorously in the pot.
VisualDescribes the visual of water boiling energetically.
急に立ち上がったので、視界がクラクラした。
きゅうにたちあがったので、しかいがクラクラした。
My vision swam because I stood up suddenly.
LiteralDescribes dizziness due to a sudden change in posture.
Similar Words
ふらふら
furafura
Describes a lack of stability, whether physically (feeling dizzy or walking unsteadily) or mentally (being indecisive or wandering aimlessly). Focuses on body instability.
ぐらぐら
guragura
This word describes something shaking because its foundation is unstable, water at a rolling boil, or a dizzy feeling in the head. Focuses on physical shaking of objects.
Questions
Is kurakura different from furafura?
Yes. Kurakura is the internal sensation of spinning (dizziness), while furafura is the external physical instability (staggering).
Can I use kurakura for romance?
Yes, you can use it to describe feeling lightheaded or 'dizzy' from being overwhelmed by someone's charm.
When is kurakura used for water?
It is used when water is boiling very vigorously with large, active bubbles.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1003940
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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