Entry
もにょもにょ
monyomonyo
Describes speaking in a small, hesitant voice or struggling to find the right words due to awkwardness.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes someone speaking indistinctly, falteringly, or in a small voice. It often implies that the speaker is hesitating, lacks confidence, is making excuses, or feels awkward. In modern internet slang, it can also refer to a general state of feeling awkward, unsettled, or unsure about a situation.
- Mumbling or hesitant speech
- Awkward or unsettled feeling (slang)
Sense Map
Hesitant Speech
Speaking indistinctly and in a small voice due to a lack of confidence or while trying to make an excuse.
もにょもにょと言い訳をする
Awkward Feeling (Slang)
Feeling a sense of mild discomfort, mixed emotions, or an awkwardness that is hard to express clearly.
もにょもにょした気分になる
Usage Note
How to Use
もにょもにょと言う
Used when someone says something in a mumbled, faltering manner.
もにょもにょと話す
Used to describe a general style of hesitant and indistinct speaking.
もにょもにょする
Used as a verb to indicate acting awkwardly or experiencing an unsettled feeling.
もにょもにょさせる
Used with nouns like mouth to describe moving one's mouth awkwardly without producing clear speech.
How to Use
Common Phrases
もにょもにょ言う
to say something hesitantly
もにょもにょ話す
to talk in a faltering voice
口をもにょもにょさせる
to move one's mouth awkwardly
もにょもにょする
to feel unsettled or act awkwardly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Making excuses | negative | Used when someone is dodging a difficult question by mumbling. |
| Internet slang | neutral | Expresses a mild, lingering feeling of dissatisfaction or awkwardness about a situation. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
もぐもぐ もぐもぐ / similar | When someone mumbles with their mouth closed or speaks while chewing food. | Focuses more on the physical movement of the closed mouth, whereas the main entry focuses on the psychological hesitation. | もぐもぐと言い訳をする |
ぼそぼそ ぼそぼそ / similar | When someone speaks in a very quiet, low, and lifeless voice. | Describes a gloomy or subdued tone, rather than the act of struggling to find words due to awkwardness. | ぼそぼそと話す |
ずけずけ ずけずけ / opposite | When someone speaks their mind bluntly and directly without any hesitation. | Represents the exact opposite behavior, denoting overly direct speech completely lacking in hesitation. | ズケズケと物を言う |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for someone who naturally just has a quiet voice.
It should only be used when the quietness is caused by hesitation, lack of confidence, or awkwardness.
Using it in formal business emails to express uncertainty.
This is a very casual word and should be avoided in professional communication.
Examples
Examples
先生に怒られ、生徒はもにょもにょと言い訳をした。
せんせいに おこられ、せいとは もにょもにょと いいわけを した。
Scolded by the teacher, the student mumbled an excuse.
LiteralShows someone who feels guilty and struggles to speak clearly.
自信がないのか、彼はいつももにょもにょと話す。
じしんが ないのか、かれは いつも もにょもにょと はなす。
Perhaps lacking confidence, he always speaks in a mumbled, hesitant voice.
LiteralConnects a lack of self-confidence with a hesitant speaking style.
質問されると、彼女は口をもにょもにょさせて黙ってしまった。
しつもんされると、かのじょは くちを もにょもにょさせて だまってしまった。
When asked a question, she just moved her mouth awkwardly and fell silent.
VisualFocuses on the mouth movement showing someone struggling to find words.
結末がよくわからない映画を見て、少しもにょもにょした気分になった。
けつまつが よく わからない えいがを みて、すこし もにょもにょした きぶんに なった。
Watching a movie with an unclear ending left me feeling a bit unsettled.
FigurativeAn example of slang usage to describe a lingering, hard-to-explain unsettled feeling.
会議で意見を求められ、もにょもにょと言葉を濁した。
かいぎで いけんを もとめられ、もにょもにょと ことばを にごした。
Asked for my opinion in the meeting, I mumbled and gave a vague answer.
LiteralUsed when someone intentionally avoids speaking clearly to dodge a direct answer.
Similar Words
もぐもぐ
mogumogu
もぐもぐ describes a continuous, muffled movement, such as chewing food with the mouth closed or speaking unclearly. Also describes mumbling, but focuses on closed-mouth movement or eating.
ぼそぼそ
bosoboso
Describes speaking in a low, unclear mumble, or the texture of food that has become dry, crumbly, and tasteless. Similar in having a quiet voice, but implies a more gloomy or lifeless tone.
ズケズケ
zukezuke
Zukezuke describes speaking bluntly or intruding verbally without caring about the listener's feelings. The opposite of hesitating, used when speaking very bluntly.
Questions
Can I use this word when someone struggles to speak a foreign language?
Yes, if they are speaking in a hesitant, faltering manner because they are searching for words, it fits well.
Is this word formal?
No, it is highly casual and frequently used in slang contexts.
What does it mean to feel monyomonyo after watching a movie?
It means the movie left you with mixed feelings, perhaps due to an ambiguous ending or an awkward plot twist.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2866251
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- Needs review
- Active language
- English
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