Entry
ぷくっと
pukutto
Describes something visibly and suddenly puffing out or swelling up, such as puffed cheeks or a small blister.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A mimetic word used when a small surface area suddenly expands or swells outward. It is very commonly used to describe someone puffing out their cheeks in a cute pout, or to indicate a small, localized swelling on the skin like a bug bite.
- Puffing out cheeks when pouting
- A small swelling on the skin
- Dough or bubbles swelling up
Sense Map
Puffed Cheeks
The action of puffing out one's cheeks, often when sulking or pouting in a childish or cute manner.
ほっぺたをぷくっと膨らませる
Small Swelling
A small, localized swelling or bulge on a surface, such as a mosquito bite or a blister.
虫刺されがぷくっと腫れる
Usage Note
How to Use
ぷくっと + verb (e.g., 膨らむ, 腫れる)
Used with verbs meaning to swell, puff up, or expand to emphasize the outward movement.
ぷくっとなる
Means to become puffed up or to naturally form a small swelling (intransitive).
ぷくっとさせる
Means to puff out one's cheeks intentionally (causative form).
How to Use
Common Phrases
ぷくっと膨らむ
to puff up
ぷくっと腫れる
to swell up
ほっぺたをぷくっとさせる
to puff out one's cheeks
ぷくっとなる
to become swollen
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Puffing out cheeks | Cute and Childish | Frequently seen in manga and anime when characters mildly sulk. |
| Bug bites or blisters | Neutral | Objectively describes the visual appearance of a small bump appearing on the skin. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぷっくり ぷっくり / similar | Use to highlight the state of being pleasantly plump, round, and swollen. | ぷくっと focuses on the sudden action of swelling or puffing, whereas ぷっくり describes the steady plump state itself. | ぷっくりした唇 |
ぷくぷく ぷくぷく / similar | Use for continuous bubbling or a chubby physical state of a living being. | ぷくぷく describes continuous bubbles or general chubbiness, while ぷくっと is a single instance of a small bulge or puff. | ぷくぷく太る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for major injuries or large swellings.
It is only appropriate for small, distinct bumps like insect bites, not severe edema or large traumatic swelling.
Using it to describe someone getting fat.
Do not use it for overall weight gain; use words like ぽっちゃり or ぶくぶく instead.
Examples
Examples
彼女は怒ってほっぺたをぷくっと膨らませた。
彼女（かのじょ）は怒（おこ）ってほっぺたをぷくっと膨（ふく）らませた。
She got angry and puffed out her cheeks.
VisualDepicts a cute sulking gesture where someone puffs out their cheeks.
蚊に刺されたところがぷくっと腫れている。
蚊（か）に刺（さ）されたところがぷくっと腫（は）れている。
The place where the mosquito bit me has swollen into a small bump.
VisualDescribes how a part of the skin is slightly raised into a small, round bump.
焼く前のパンの生地がぷくっと膨らんできた。
焼（や）く前（まえ）のパンの生地（きじ）がぷくっと膨（ふく）らんできた。
The bread dough started to puff up before baking.
VisualDescribes how air fills the dough, causing it to round out and expand.
お湯が沸いて、水面に小さな泡がぷくっと浮かんだ。
お湯（ゆ）が沸（わ）いて、水面（すいめん）に小（ちい）さな泡（あわ）がぷくっと浮（う）かんだ。
The water boiled, and a small bubble popped up to the surface.
VisualDescribes a single small bubble appearing. For continuous bubbling, pukupuku is used.
新しい靴を履いたら、かかとに水ぶくれがぷくっとできた。
新（あたら）しい靴（くつ）を履（は）いたら、かかとに水（みず）ぶくれがぷくっとできた。
After wearing new shoes, a small blister formed on my heel.
VisualIndicates the formation of a localized, round blister on the skin.
Similar Words
ぷくぷく
pukupuku
For continuous bubbles or a chubby body shape.
Questions
What is the difference between ぷくっと and ぷっくり?
The first focuses on the action or motion of puffing up, while the second describes the resulting visual state of being plump or swollen.
Can I use it for a balloon?
It can be used for small bubbles or the initial small puff of air entering a balloon, but standard verbs without this mimetic word are more common for inflating large balloons.
Is this word safe to use in formal contexts?
It is slightly colloquial and conversational, making it perfectly fine for everyday speech but generally avoided in highly formal written reports.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2728240
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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- むむ (mumu)
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- ペッペッ (peppe)