Entry
くすん
kusun
Kusun and gusun describe the sound of a short intake of breath through the nose, typical of soft crying or having a runny nose.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This mimetic word captures a sniff or sniffle. The unvoiced くすん (kusun) feels softer and lighter, commonly portraying someone crying quietly or holding back tears. The voiced ぐすん (gusun) sounds heavier and wetter, often used for stronger weeping or a severely runny, congested nose from a cold.
- crying softly
- runny nose
Sense Map
Soft Crying
The sound of suppressed sobs, sniffling, or crying quietly.
くすんくすん泣く
Runny Nose
Sniffling due to a cold, allergies, or a congested nose.
鼻がぐすんぐすんする
Usage Note
How to Use
〜と泣く
〜する
〜（と）
How to Use
Common Phrases
くすんくすん泣く
to cry softly while sniffling
鼻がぐすんぐすんする
to have a runny nose
くすんと鼻を鳴らす
to give a sniff
ぐすんぐすん言っている
to be constantly sniffling
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Crying | neutral | Portrays suppressed sadness or the quiet sniffling of a child. |
| Sickness | neutral | Describes a runny nose, often using the doubled ぐすんぐすん form. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
すんすん すんすん / similar | Focuses more on rhythmic breathing through the nose, such as sniffing an aroma. | Not always linked to sadness; it frequently means sniffing a scent. | 匂いをスンスン嗅ぐ |
ぐすぐす ぐすぐす / similar | Emphasizes the persistent condition of a very congested nose or prolonged snuffling. | Can also mean acting sluggish or hesitant, unlike kusun. | 鼻がぐすぐす鳴る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using くすん for loud, wailing cries.
It strictly represents soft sniffling or suppressed crying; use わあわあ (waawaa) for loud crying.
Thinking ぐすん means a sneeze.
It indicates a sniff or drawing in of mucus, not the explosive sound of a sneeze, which is ハックション (hakkushon).
Examples
Examples
悲しい映画を見て、くすんと泣いてしまった。
かなしいえいがをみて、くすんとないてしまった。
I watched a sad movie and cried softly with a sniffle.
LiteralDescribes a quiet, soft sniffle while crying.
風邪を引いたのか、鼻がぐすんぐすん鳴っている。
かぜをひいたのか、はながぐすんぐすんなっている。
Maybe I caught a cold; my nose keeps sniffling.
LiteralGusun is used here because the nose is heavily congested from a cold.
怒られた子供は、くすんくすんと鼻を鳴らした。
おこられたこどもは、くすんくすんとはなをならした。
The scolded child gave a series of soft sniffles.
LiteralThe repetition indicates multiple sniffles in succession.
「もう知らない」と、彼女はグスンと鼻をすすった。
「もうしらない」と、かのじょはグスンとはなをすすった。
I don't care anymore, she said with a single sniff.
LiteralWriting in katakana is often used for emphasis.
花粉症の季節は、いつも鼻がぐすんと言っている。
かふんしょうのきせつは、いつもはながぐすんといっている。
During hay fever season, my nose is always sniffling.
LiteralUsing the verb iu (to say) is idiomatic for something making a continuous sound.
Similar Words
スンスン
sunsun
Used for rhythmic breathing, such as when sniffing a scent.
ぐすぐす
gusugusu
Indicates a heavily congested nose.
Questions
What is the difference between くすん (kusun) and ぐすん (gusun)?
Kusun is lighter, fitting a quiet sniffle. Gusun implies a heavier or wetter sound, like a stuffy nose or miserable crying.
Can adults use this word?
Yes, particularly if they are sniffling quietly, though it has a slightly colloquial or childish ring.
Can I use this for a dog sniffing around?
For active sniffing of scents, words like クンクン (kunkun) or スンスン (sunsun) are much more common.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2130690
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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