Entry
むむ
mumu
むむ (mumu) is a vocalization like 'hmm', used when thinking deeply, feeling mild surprise, or indicating agreement.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
In Japanese, むむ (mumu) is an interjection typically made with a closed mouth. It frequently appears in conversations and manga to indicate that a character is pondering a problem, expressing slight doubt or surprise, or chuckling softly in agreement.
- Thinking deeply
- Mild surprise
- Closed-mouth chuckle
Sense Map
Thinking or Pondering
Used when thinking deeply about something or trying to solve a problem.
むむ、これは難しい。
Mild Surprise
Used when noticing something slightly unexpected or feeling a bit of doubt.
むむ、なんだこれは。
Agreement or Chuckle
Used to indicate agreement or a light chuckle with a closed mouth.
むむ、その通りだ。
Usage Note
How to Use
むむ、〜
Used at the beginning of a sentence when starting to think or react.
むむっ、〜
Adding the small tsu (っ) creates a sharp pause, indicating sudden realization or mild shock.
むむむ〜
An extended sound used to show a deeper thought process or stronger doubt.
How to Use
Common Phrases
むむ、なるほど
Hmm, I see
むむっ、あやしい
Hmm, suspicious
むむ、困ったな
Hmm, I'm in trouble
むむ、わからない
Hmm, I don't understand
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Solving a problem | neutral | Used when facing a difficult question and trying to find the solution. |
| Mild surprise | neutral | Spoken when noticing a minor discrepancy or something odd. |
| Small chuckle | positive | Shows a quiet, suppressed laugh, often accompanied by a faint smile. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ふむ ふむ / similar | When showing understanding or listening to someone. | ふむ leans more toward agreement or comprehension ('ah, I see'), while むむ focuses more on the process of struggling to find an answer. | ふむ、なるほど |
むっと むっと / contrast | When feeling offended or suppressing anger. | Although they sound similar, ムッと indicates negative emotion (anger), not a thinking state. | ムッとして黙る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using むむ to express intense anger.
むむ is mainly for deep thought or doubt. For suppressed anger, use ムッと (mutto) instead.
Adding する (suru) to make it a verb (むむする).
むむ is an interjection and cannot take the verb する.
Examples
Examples
むむ、これはかなり難しい問題だ。
むむ、これはかなりむずかしいもんだいだ。
Hmm, this is quite a difficult problem.
LiteralDescribes someone thinking hard when faced with a difficult question or situation.
むむ、あの人どこかで見たことがあるな。
むむ、あのひとどこかでみたことがあるな。
Hmm, I feel like I've seen that person somewhere before.
LiteralSpoken when realizing something or feeling a sense of familiarity, showing mild surprise.
むむ、確かに君の言う通りかもしれない。
むむ、たしかにきみのいうとおりかもしれない。
Hmm, you might indeed be right.
LiteralShows a moment of thought before agreeing with someone else's opinion.
むむ、どうやって解決するか悩む。
むむ、どうやってかいけつするかなやむ。
Hmm, I'm struggling with how to solve this.
LiteralUsed when facing a dead end and racking one's brain for a solution.
彼は「むむ」と低く笑った。
かれは「むむ」とひくくわらった。
He chuckled lowly, going "hm hm".
LiteralAn example of its use as a suppressed laugh caught in the throat.
Similar Words
ふむ
fumu
A similar interjection showing understanding or thinking.
Questions
Is むむ polite to use at work?
No, it is a casual interjection. It's better to avoid muttering むむ in front of clients or bosses.
What is the difference between むむ and むむむ?
むむむ is just a lengthened form to show deeper thinking or a longer duration of doubt.
Can I use むむ when I'm angry?
むむ doesn't typically represent anger. If you are angry with a closed mouth, use ムッと instead.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2727850
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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