Entry
のたりのたり
notarinotari
のたりのたり describes a slow, gentle, and continuous rolling or undulating motion, most commonly used for ocean waves.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This is a literary and poetic expression depicting a slow, heavy, and rhythmic motion like calmly rolling waves. It is typically used to describe large bodies of water, or anything massive moving with a slow, swaying, undulating gait. It is famously recognized from a classic haiku by Yosa Buson about the spring sea.
- slowly rolling waves
- large undulating movement
Sense Map
Waves & Water
Describes the calm, peaceful, and slow rising and falling motion of ocean waves.
春の海がのたりのたりとうねっている。
Large & Slow Motion
Describes massive objects or animals moving forward in a slow, rolling, or undulating manner.
巨大な蛇がのたりのたりと這っていく。
Usage Note
How to Use
のたりのたりと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe the slow, undulating manner in which an action (like flowing or crawling) takes place.
のたりのたりする
Used as a verb to state that something is rolling or undulating slowly.
How to Use
Common Phrases
のたりのたりと寄せる
to roll in slowly (waves)
のたりのたりと動く
to move with a slow rolling motion
のたりのたりとした波
gently rolling waves
のたりのたりと続く
to continue in a slow, undulating rhythm
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean waves on a calm day | positive | The most classic and common context, evoking a deep sense of peace. |
| Movement of large creatures | neutral | Emphasizes the massive, rolling weight of the animal as it moves. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ゆっくり ゆっくり / similar | Use for any general slowness (e.g., walking slowly, speaking slowly). | Lacks the specific undulating, wave-like, swaying nuance that defines のたりのたり. | ゆっくり歩く。 |
のっそり のっそり / similar | Use for a slow, heavy, and somewhat lumbering or sluggish movement. | While both involve slow and heavy movement, のっそり implies stiffness or sluggishness, whereas のたりのたり implies a fluid, continuous rhythm. | のっそり立ち上がる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to mean someone is walking slowly in the park.
This sounds unnatural because the word expects an undulating motion or something massive like the sea. Use 'ゆっくり' for leisurely walking.
Assuming it means being lazy or sluggish.
The word has a positive, peaceful, and poetic nuance representing the calmness of nature, not laziness.
Examples
Examples
春の海がのたりのたりとうねっている。
はるのうみがのたりのたりとうねっている。
The spring sea is undulating slowly and gently.
VisualThe most classic example, referring to the calmness of the sea.
船は波にのたりのたりと揺られて進む。
ふねはなみにのたりのたりとゆられてすすむ。
The boat moves forward, slowly rocked by the gentle waves.
VisualShows the effect of the rolling waves on an object afloat.
大河がのたりのたりと流れている。
たいががのたりのたりとながれている。
The large river flows with a slow, rolling movement.
VisualUsed for large volumes of water, not small streams.
巨大な蛇がのたりのたりと這っていく。
きょだいなへびがのたりのたりとはっていく。
The giant snake crawls forward with a slow, undulating motion.
VisualApplied to large, long creatures or objects moving with a wave-like motion.
彼はのたりのたりと重い足取りで歩き出した。
かれはのたりのたりとおもいあしどりであるきだした。
He started walking with a heavy, slow, and rolling gait.
FigurativeFigurative use for a heavy human gait that appears to sway or roll slowly.
Similar Words
のそり
nosori
Describes a slow, heavy, and somewhat sluggish physical movement, often associated with a large mass like a big animal or a heavily built person.
のっそり
nossori
Describes someone or something moving very slowly and heavily, or standing completely still without reacting. A movement that is slow but stiff or heavy (like a bear).
ゆっくり
yukkuri
ゆっくり describes taking one's time, moving without haste, or being in a state of comfortable relaxation. General word for a slow movement or state.
Questions
Is this word commonly used in spoken Japanese?
No. It is a highly literary and poetic expression, mostly found in books, poems, or descriptive writing about nature.
Why is it so closely associated with the spring sea?
Because of a very famous haiku by poet Yosa Buson: 'Haru no umi, hinemosu notari notari kana' (The spring sea, gently rolling all day long).
Can I use it to describe a slow-motion video?
Not really. Even if the video is slow, のたりのたり requires a 'rolling' or 'undulating' element. For plain slow motion, use 'スローモーション' or 'ゆっくり'.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2413910
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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