Entry
もちもち
mochimochi
Mochimochi means a soft, springy, and slightly elastic texture, similar to freshly made mochi.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes something that is very soft yet pleasantly resistant and bouncy when pressed or chewed. It is predominantly used as a high compliment for foods like bread, pasta, and udon, or to describe plump, healthy skin.
- Springy and doughy food texture
- Plump and elastic skin
Sense Map
Food Texture
Describes foods that are doughy, chewy, and slightly elastic, such as bread, mochi, rice, or noodles.
もちもちのうどん
Skin Texture
Describes skin that feels very soft, plump, bouncy, and well-hydrated.
肌がもちもちする
Usage Note
How to Use
もちもちする
Used as a verb to state that something feels springy or doughy.
もちもちの + Noun
Directly modifies a noun, most often referring to texture (食感) or skin (肌).
もちもちした + Noun
Describes an object that is in a springy or doughy state.
How to Use
Common Phrases
もちもちの食感
chewy/springy texture
肌がもちもちする
skin feels bouncy/plump
もちもちしたパン
soft, doughy bread
もちもちのうどん
chewy udon noodles
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Talking about bread, pizza, or noodles | Highly Positive | A prime compliment indicating the dough was prepared perfectly. |
| Skincare | Highly Positive | A common buzzword in cosmetics to describe the ideal bouncy, moisturized skin. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぷにぷに ぷにぷに / similar | Used for something soft and squishy like jelly, gummies, or a baby's cheek, with less density than food meant to be chewed. | Not suitable for the satisfying resistance of bread or noodles. | ぷにぷにのゼリー |
しこしこ しこしこ / nearby | Used for noodles that are firm and 'al dente', requiring more jaw effort than mochimochi. | Lacks the soft, doughy plumpness of mochimochi. | シコシコしたうどん |
ぱさぱさ ぱさぱさ / opposite | Used to describe food that is overly dry, crumbly, and lacks moisture. | The exact opposite of a moist, elastic mochimochi texture. | パサパサのパン |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using mochimochi for light, airy cakes like sponge cake.
Use ふわふわ (fuwafuwa) for fluffy, airy things. Mochimochi requires a dense, doughy elasticity.
Using mochimochi for tough, hard-to-chew foods like steak.
Mochimochi is easy to bite into and pleasant. Tough foods are better described as かたい (katai) or 噛みごたえがある (kamigotae ga aru).
Examples
Examples
このパンはもちもちしていて美味しいです。
このパンはもちもちしていておいしいです。
This bread is doughy and delicious.
LiteralThe most common way to compliment bread texture.
赤ちゃんのほっぺたはもちもちです。
あかちゃんのほっぺたはもちもちです。
The baby's cheeks are soft and plump.
VisualDescribes extreme softness of the skin.
うどんがもちもちとした食感で人気があります。
うどんがもちもちとしたしょっかんでにんきがあります。
This udon is popular for its chewy texture.
LiteralUsing the set phrase for 'chewy texture' (mochimochi to shokkan).
洗顔後の肌がもちもちになりました。
せんがんごのはだがもちもちになりました。
My skin became plump and bouncy after washing my face.
VisualA sentence commonly found in beauty product reviews.
もちもちのピザ生地が好きです。
もちもちのピザきじがすきです。
I like doughy, chewy pizza crusts.
LiteralShowing texture preference in carbohydrate-rich foods.
Similar Words
シコシコ
shikoshiko
Chewy but firmer (al dente) compared to the doughy mochimochi.
ぷにぷに
punipuni
ぷにぷに describes a very soft, elastic, and squishy texture that bounces back when pressed, like a baby's cheek or a gummy candy. Squishy and bouncy, but yields more easily than mochimochi (like jelly).
パサパサ
pasapasa
Describes the state of lacking moisture or natural oils, resulting in an unpleasantly dry or coarse texture. Dry and crumbly, the exact opposite of mochimochi.
Questions
Can I use mochimochi for meat?
Generally, no. It refers to the elasticity of carbohydrates (dough, rice, noodles) rather than muscle fibers.
What is the difference between mochimochi and fuwafuwa?
Fuwafuwa means fluffy and light (like a cloud), while mochimochi means dense, springy, and elastic (like mochi).
Is it only used for food?
No, it is also one of the most common and flattering ways to describe healthy, bouncy human skin.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2403780
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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