Entry
ぱくぱく
pakupaku
Describes the repeated opening and closing of a mouth, or the action of eating heartily and continuously.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Pakupaku represents a rhythmic opening and closing motion. It is most commonly used to describe someone eating food with a hearty appetite, taking consecutive bites. It can also describe a mouth opening and shutting without making a sound (like a fish gasping for air) or inanimate objects flapping open, such as a detached shoe sole.
- Eating heartily
- Opening and closing mouth
- Flapping objects
Sense Map
Eating heartily
Eating food steadily with a good appetite, taking bite after bite.
お菓子をぱくぱく食べる
Opening and closing mouth
A mouth repeatedly opening and shutting, like a fish gasping for air or someone trying to speak without making a sound.
金魚が口をぱくぱくさせる
Flapping objects
Inanimate objects, especially those with a hinge-like structure, repeatedly gaping open and shut.
靴の底がぱくぱくする
Usage Note
How to Use
ぱくぱく食べる
Used as an adverb to describe the manner of eating heartily.
ぱくぱくする
Used as a verb (with suru) to mean something is flapping or opening and closing repeatedly.
ぱくぱくと動く
Uses the particle 'to' to modify a verb, emphasizing the motion.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぱくぱく食べる
to eat heartily
口をぱくぱくさせる
to open and close one's mouth repeatedly
ぱくぱくする
to flap open and shut / to gasp
ぱくぱくと口を動かす
to move one's mouth opening and shutting
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eating | positive | Describes a healthy, hearty appetite, often associated with children or animals. |
| Mouth movements | neutral | Describes gasping fish or someone moving their mouth without vocalizing. |
| Broken objects | negative | Used for things like detached shoe soles flapping, which indicates damage. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ばくばく ばくばく / similar | Use for eating with much greater intensity, taking huge bites, or for a loudly pounding heart. | ぱくぱく is lighter and focuses on the continuous, steady opening and closing of the mouth without necessarily implying huge bites or loudness. | バクバク食べる。 |
むしゃむしゃ むしゃむしゃ / similar | Use for eating eagerly while making chewing sounds, similar to an animal eating grass or leaves. | ぱくぱく focuses on the visual opening and closing of the mouth taking bites, whereas むしゃむしゃ focuses on the enthusiastic chewing action and sound. | 無心でムシャムシャ食べる。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for chewing with your mouth closed.
Use もぐもぐ (mogumogu) instead.
Using it to mean simply 'eating' in formal contexts.
It is a casual, descriptive word. Use standard verbs like 食べる (taberu) or いただく (itadaku) in formal speech.
Examples
Examples
魚が水面で口をぱくぱくさせている。
さかながすいめんでくちをぱくぱくさせている。
The fish is opening and closing its mouth at the surface of the water.
VisualDescribes the physical movement of the fish's mouth seeking air.
子供がお菓子をぱくぱく食べた。
こどもがおかしをぱくぱくたべた。
The child ate the snacks heartily.
LiteralFocuses on the continuous and appetizing manner of eating.
靴の底が剥がれて、歩くたびにぱくぱくする。
くつのそこがはがれて、あるくたびにぱくぱくする。
The sole of the shoe has peeled off, so it flaps every time I walk.
VisualDescribes an inanimate object gaping open and shut like a mouth.
驚いて何も言えず、ただ口をぱくぱくさせるだけだった。
おどろいてなにもいえず、ただくちをぱくぱくさせるだけだった。
I was so surprised I couldn't say anything, and just opened and closed my mouth.
FigurativeFigurative for being speechless or unable to vocalize.
彼女は大きなハンバーガーをぱくぱくと平らげた。
かのじょはおおきなはんばーがーをぱくぱくとたいらげた。
She heartily devoured the large hamburger.
LiteralUses the particle 'to' to emphasize the repeated action.
Similar Words
バクバク
bakubaku
Describes a strongly pounding heartbeat from intense nervousness or exertion, or the action of devouring food in large, energetic bites. More intense, used for ravenous eating or a pounding heart.
むしゃむしゃ
mushamusha
The sound or action of chewing food noisily, eagerly, or ravenously. Focuses on the chewing action and sound, like an animal eating grass.
パクリ
pakuri
Pakuri means to open wide, gobble up in one bite, or plagiarize someone's work.
Questions
Can I use pakupaku for drinking?
No, it is strictly used for eating or the motion of opening and closing a mouth. For drinking continuously, use ごくごく (gokugoku).
Is pakupaku polite?
It is a casual mimetic word. While not rude, it is generally not used in formal business settings unless describing something vividly.
What's the difference between pakupaku and bakubaku?
Bakubaku is more intense. Pakupaku is like munching steadily, while bakubaku is like devouring ravenously or taking massive bites.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1010380
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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