Entry
ぷいと
puito
ぷいと describes the sudden action of turning one's face away or leaving a place because of a bad mood or sulking.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This term is used when someone abruptly cuts off communication, turns away, or leaves a scene due to suddenly falling into a bad mood. It often carries a childish or petulant nuance, showing clear displeasure.
- Suddenly turning away out of annoyance
- Leaving a place abruptly in a huff
Sense Map
Turning Away
The act of suddenly looking or turning away to show rejection, annoyance, or a sulky mood.
ぷいと横を向く
Leaving Abruptly
Walking away or exiting a place suddenly because one is in a bad mood.
ぷいっと立ち去る
Usage Note
How to Use
ぷいと + verb
Used immediately before verbs of motion (like turning or walking) to describe an action done in a huff.
ぷいっと + verb
An emphatic form of ぷいと, adding a slightly sharper or more abrupt feeling to the action.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぷいと横を向く
turn away abruptly in a huff
ぷいっと立ち去る
leave abruptly out of displeasure
ぷいとそっぽを向く
look the other way in a sulk
ぷいっと部屋を出る
storm out of the room abruptly
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Turning the head away | negative | Implies a somewhat childish refusal to listen or communicate further. |
| Leaving a scene | negative | Creates a rude or abrupt impression because the person leaves without warning due to a bad mood. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
むっすり むっすり / nearby | Used when someone falls into a silent, sullen, or gloomy mood without saying anything. | ムッスリ focuses on static, sullen silence, while ぷいと focuses on a sudden physical action like leaving or turning away. | ムッスリと黙り込む |
ぷんと ぷんと / nearby | Used to express clear sulking or being in a huff. | ぷんと emphasizes the state of being angry or sulky itself, whereas ぷいと specifically describes the sudden physical movement that cuts off interaction. | ぷんと怒る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using ぷいと simply to mean "suddenly" for natural events, like a sudden rain.
ぷいと strictly requires a subject with emotions (like a person or pet) turning away or leaving because they are upset or sulking.
Thinking ぷいと means intense, violent rage.
It refers to a milder, often childish form of annoyance, petulance, or sulking, rather than explosive anger.
Examples
Examples
彼女は怒ってぷいと横を向いた。
かのじょ は おこって ぷいと よこ を むいた。
She got angry and abruptly turned away in a huff.
VisualDescribes the physical movement of refusing to look at the other person due to anger.
彼は何も言わずに、ぷいっと部屋を出て行った。
かれ は なにも いわずに、 ぷいっと へや を でて いった。
He abruptly left the room without saying a word in a huff.
VisualShows a quick departure as a form of silent protest or sulking.
注意されると、その子はぷいとそっぽを向いた。
ちゅうい される と、 その こ は ぷいと そっぽ を むいた。
When scolded, the child suddenly turned their back in a sulk.
FigurativeOften used to describe a child's behavior when refusing to listen to a warning.
機嫌を損ねて、ぷいっと立ち去ってしまった。
きげん を そこねて、 ぷいっと たちさって しまった。
Because their mood was ruined, they left abruptly in a huff.
VisualFocuses on the quick departure resulting from a suddenly sour mood.
少しからかっただけで、彼女はぷいと顔を背けた。
すこし からかった だけ で、 かのじょ は ぷいと かお を そむけた。
Just from being teased a little, she turned her face away in a huff.
VisualDemonstrates a rapid shift in mood from an initially light interaction.
Similar Words
ムッスリ
mussuri
Focuses on static, sullen silence.
Questions
Can I use ぷいと if I turn around suddenly just because I am surprised?
No. ぷいと always implies a bad mood, sulking, or displeasure. If you turn around merely in surprise, use a word like はっと (hatto).
Is there a difference between ぷいと and ぷいっと?
They mean the same thing, but ぷいっと adds a bit more emphasis to the sharpness or suddenness of the movement.
Does ぷいと sound childish?
When applied to an adult, it often makes their action seem petulant or immature, as it resembles a child pouting.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2096980
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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