Entry
モワッと
mowatto
Describes the sudden sensation of being enveloped by something thick in the air, such as stifling heat, a cloud of steam, or a strong smell.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
モワッと is an onomatopoeic word used when you are suddenly hit by a dense, enveloping mass of air. It frequently describes the sensation of stepping into a muggy, stifling room, a thick cloud of steam or smoke billowing up, or a pungent, heavy odor filling your nose.
- Stifling, muggy hot air
- Thick clouds of steam or smoke
- Sudden, heavy, and pungent smells
Sense Map
Hot & Stifling Air
Describes a sudden wave of thick, suffocating heat, like stepping outside on a humid summer day or opening a sauna door.
モワッとした熱気
Steam & Smoke
Describes thick steam or smoke suddenly rising or spreading out in a cloud.
湯気がモワッと立つ
Strong Smells
Describes a heavy, often musty or pungent smell that suddenly hits your nose.
匂いがモワッと漂う
Usage Note
How to Use
モワッと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how steam, smoke, or smells spread, e.g., モワッと広がる (spread thickly).
モワッとする
Used as a verb to state that the air is stifling or that a smell is hanging heavily.
モワッとした + noun
Used to modify nouns, such as モワッとした空気 (stifling air).
How to Use
Common Phrases
モワッとした熱気
stiflingly hot air
湯気がモワッと立つ
steam rises thickly
モワッとした空気
suffocating / muggy air
煙がモワッと広がる
smoke spreads thickly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Air | negative | Used to express discomfort from high humidity or stifling heat. |
| Steam/Smoke | neutral | Highlights the density of the vapor, like opening the lid of a boiling pot. |
| Smell | negative | Often used for heavy, unpleasant smells like mustiness, body odor, or strong perfumes filling a space. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
むわむわ むわむわ / similar | Use ムワムワ for a continuous state of a room being filled with stifling heat or heavy smells. | モワッと emphasizes the sudden moment the thick air or smell hits you, whereas ムワムワ describes a stagnant, ongoing condition. | 部屋がムワムワする |
つんと つんと / contrast | Use ツンと for a sharp, piercing smell that stings the nose (like vinegar or ammonia). | ツンと is a physically sharp, prickly scent, while モワッと is a dull, heavy, enveloping scent (like a musty room). | ツンとする匂い |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using モワッと for the temperature of objects, like a hot cup of tea.
モワッと only describes things dispersed in the air (heat, steam, smoke, smell), not the tactile heat of physical objects.
Using it for a strong taste in food.
It cannot be used for flavor, only for odors or heat enveloping you.
Examples
Examples
ドアを開けると、モワッとした熱気が顔に当たった。
ドアをあけると、モワッとしたねっきがかおにあたった。
Opening the door, a stifling blast of hot air hit my face.
LiteralDemonstrates the physical sensation of dense, hot air immediately enveloping someone.
お湯を注ぐと、湯気がモワッと立ち上った。
おゆをそそぐと、ゆげがモワッとたちのぼった。
When I poured the hot water, steam rose up thickly.
VisualVisually describes the steam rising in a dense, cloud-like manner.
サウナに入ると、モワッとした空気に包まれる。
サウナにはいると、モワッとしたくうきにつつまれる。
Entering the sauna, you are enveloped by stifling air.
LiteralShows the noun modification to describe the heavy, humid atmosphere of a room.
タバコの煙がモワッと広がった。
タバコのけむりがモワッとひろがった。
The cigarette smoke spread out in a thick cloud.
VisualDescribes the physical spreading of dense gas or smoke.
古い箱を開けたら、カビの匂いがモワッと漂ってきた。
ふるいはこをあけたら、カビのにおいがモワッとただよってきた。
When I opened the old box, a musty mold smell drifted out heavily.
LiteralAn example of using it for a strong, confined smell suddenly escaping.
Similar Words
ムワムワ
muwamuwa
Used for continuously stagnant, stifling air or heavy smells.
Questions
Is モワッと the same as being humid?
It often implies high humidity. Air that is モワッとした is usually hot, moist, and therefore feels thick and suffocating.
Can I use it for perfume?
Yes, if someone puts on far too much perfume and the scent hangs in the air like a thick, overwhelming cloud.
What is the difference between モワッと and ムワッと (muwatto)?
They are nearly identical. Some native speakers feel ムワッと sounds slightly heavier and denser, but they are generally interchangeable.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2836552
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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