Entry
ぱかっと
pakatto
Describes something (like a mouth, lid, or shell) popping wide open or splitting apart suddenly.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word is used to describe something suddenly opening wide or cleanly separating, such as a gaping mouth, an opening clam, or a lid popping off. The 'to' suffix emphasizes that the action happens in a quick, momentary flash.
- Opening a container or shell
- Opening the mouth wide
Sense Map
Opening a container
Used when a lid, shell, or hinged object suddenly pops wide open.
箱の蓋がぱかっと開く。
Opening a mouth
Used when a person or animal suddenly opens their mouth wide.
大きな口をぱかっと開ける。
Usage Note
How to Use
ぱかっと + 動詞
Used as an adverb before a verb to describe something opening wide suddenly.
ぱかっと開く
Means to pop wide open (used as an intransitive verb, where the object opens by itself).
ぱかっと割れる
Means to split neatly and wide open into two halves.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぱかっと開く
to pop wide open
ぱかっと開ける
to open something wide
ぱかっと割れる
to split wide open
口をぱかっと開ける
to open one's mouth wide
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Opening a mouth | neutral | Focuses purely on the visual aspect of the mouth opening wide, often due to surprise, yawning, or preparing to eat. |
| Containers and shells | neutral | Gives a light, clean impression of something separating or popping open cleanly without resistance. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぽかん ぽかん / nearby | When someone is absentminded or staring blankly with their mouth open. | Focuses on the blank state of mind rather than the sudden physical action of opening wide. | 口をぽかんと開ける |
ぱくり ぱくり / nearby | When opening the mouth wide specifically to take a big bite of something. | Focuses on the action of biting or eating, whereas ぱかっと is just the state of opening. | りんごをパクリと食べる |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ぱかっと for opening room doors.
Use ガラッと for sliding doors or バタンッ for swinging doors. ぱかっと is used for hinged objects like lids, shells, or mouths.
Using ぱかっと to mean eating heartily.
ぱかっと only describes the physical act of the mouth opening wide. To describe taking a bite or eating, use パクリ or ぱくぱく.
Examples
Examples
箱の蓋がぱかっと開いた。
はこのふたがぱかっとあいた。
The lid of the box suddenly popped wide open.
VisualIndicates a lid suddenly popping open.
驚いて口をぱかっと開けた。
おどろいてくちをぱかっとあけた。
I opened my mouth wide in surprise.
VisualDescribes a mouth opening wide in surprise.
お湯を入れると、貝がぱかっと口を開けた。
おゆをいれると、かいがぱかっとくちをあけた。
When hot water was poured in, the clams popped wide open.
VisualDescribes the shells of clams opening.
くす玉がぱかっと割れた。
くすだまがぱかっとわれた。
The decorative paper ball split wide open.
VisualDescribes a round object splitting neatly in two.
古い携帯電話をぱかっと開いて電話に出た。
ふるいけいたいでんわをぱかっとひらいてでんわにでた。
I suddenly flipped open the old cell phone and answered the call.
VisualRefers to flipping open a classic clamshell phone.
Similar Words
ぽかん
pokan
Describes a state of staring blankly, gaping in surprise with an open mouth, or the light, hollow sound of a whack. Used for a mouth open in a daze or absentmindedly.
パクリ
pakuri
Pakuri means to open wide, gobble up in one bite, or plagiarize someone's work. Opening the mouth to take a bite.
ぽっかり
pokkari
ぽっかり describes a gaping hole, a light object floating in space, or a sudden sense of emptiness.
ガラッと
garatto
A sudden, complete change, or the loud clatter of flinging open a door.
Questions
Can I use ぱかっと for opening a room door?
Usually not. ぱかっと is used for things that open like a hinge (such as lids, clam shells, or flip phones). For a sliding door, use ガラッと, and for a swinging door, バタンッ is more common.
Is ぱかっと only used for mouths?
No, it is also very commonly used for containers, boxes, shells, and objects cleanly splitting into two halves.
What is the difference between ぱかっと and パクリ?
Both can describe an open mouth, but パクリ strongly implies snapping the mouth shut to take a bite, while ぱかっと simply describes the sudden action of opening wide.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2848942
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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