Entry
もったり
mottari
Describes a thick, heavy, or viscous texture, as well as a sluggish and slow physical movement.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
It primarily describes a physical state that is heavy, thick, or lacks fluidity, such as whipped cream that holds its shape or a thick soup. It is also commonly used to describe slow, heavy, and sluggish physical motions, often due to fatigue or heat.
- Thick, viscous food or liquid texture
- Sluggish, slow physical movement
Sense Map
Thick Texture
Used for viscous food or liquids that are thick, heavy, and hold their shape, like whipped cream.
生クリームをもったりするまで泡立てる。
Sluggish Movement
Used to describe slow, heavy, and unenergetic physical movements.
暑さで体がもったりしている。
Usage Note
How to Use
もったりする
Used as a verb to indicate that something becomes thick or acts sluggishly.
もったりとした + Noun
Used to modify a noun, describing it as having a thick, heavy, or sluggish quality.
もったり（と） + Verb
Used as an adverb to describe an action being performed slowly or heavily.
How to Use
Common Phrases
もったりとしたクリーム
thick and heavy cream
動きがもったりする
movements are sluggish
もったりと重い
thick and heavy
泡がもったりする
the foam becomes thick
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Whipping cream or eggs | positive/neutral | Often used in recipes to describe the exact point when foam becomes thick enough to leave a trail. |
| Moving physically | neutral/negative | Implies a lack of energy, sharpness, or speed, often due to fatigue or heat. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
とろり とろり / similar | Use for something that is smoothly thick, melting, and flows slowly. | もったり feels heavier and holds its shape more (like stiff peaks in cream), while とろり is more liquid and melts smoothly. | とろりとしたチーズ |
こってり こってり / contrast | Use for heavy, rich, and greasy food flavors. | こってり refers to rich flavor or oiliness, whereas もったり describes physical thickness, viscosity, and weight. | こってりしたラーメン |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a heavy physical object like a large rock or a heavy box.
It describes a heavy, viscous texture or a sluggish feeling, not the objective mass of an object.
Using it for a tense or heavy atmosphere.
It is mostly used for physical textures and physical bodily sluggishness, not emotional tension or mood.
Examples
Examples
生クリームをもったりするまで泡立てる。
なまクリームをもったりするまであわだてる。
Whip the fresh cream until it becomes thick and forms soft peaks.
LiteralRecipes often use this to describe the ideal whipped texture.
このスープはもったりとした食感だ。
このスープはもったりとしたしょっかんだ。
This soup has a thick and heavy texture.
LiteralDescribes liquid food that is dense and lacks flow.
卵の泡がもったりと重くなる。
たまごのあわがもったりとおもくなる。
The egg foam becomes thick and heavy.
VisualVisual change when whisking cake batter.
暑さで体がもったりしている。
あつさでからだがもったりしている。
My body feels sluggish and heavy because of the heat.
VisualDescribing physical sluggishness.
彼はもったりと立ち上がった。
かれはもったりとたちあがった。
He stood up slowly and sluggishly.
VisualIndicates a lack of agility or energy in movement.
Similar Words
とろり
torori
Describes a smooth, thick texture or eyes feeling heavy with sleep. Both describe thick liquids, but とろり is more melting and smoothly flowing.
こってり
kotteri
Describes a rich, heavy, or thick consistency, as well as an intense action like a severe scolding. Often confused with もったり. こってり means a rich, heavy, or greasy taste, not a thick physical texture.
のっそり
nossori
Describes someone or something moving very slowly and heavily, or standing completely still without reacting.
Questions
Is もったり only used for food?
No, while it is very common for thick cream or liquids, it is also frequently used to describe someone's slow or sluggish physical movements.
What is the difference between もったり and とろり?
もったり implies a heavier, stiffer texture that holds its shape more, while とろり is smoother, more liquid, and flows easily.
Can I use もったり for a heavy, humid climate?
Not typically. Humid, heavy weather is usually described with words like むしむし. もったり is reserved for physical viscosity or body sluggishness.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2857454
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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