Entry
さくさく
sakusaku
A light, flaky crunch when biting food, a soft crunch on frost, or work that moves ahead without catching.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word describes dry food that is light and breaks apart easily in the mouth, such as cookies or layered pastry. The same word mimics footsteps on snow, frost, or sand. Figuratively, it praises work, apps, or phones that respond quickly with no lag.
- Food that is light, dry, and easy to break apart.
- A light crunch of footsteps on snow, frost, or sand.
- Work or a device that moves ahead smoothly.
Sense Map
Light Flaky Texture
Describes dry food that is fragile and crumbly, not hard and dense.
クッキーがさくさくする。
Steps on Frost
Mimics a light crunch when the foot lands on snow, frost, or sand.
さくさくと雪を踏む。
Smooth Progress
Praises work, an app, or a phone that responds quickly with no stalling.
仕事がさくさく進む。
Usage Note
How to Use
さくさくする
Used as a verb for a light flaky texture, or for a process that moves ahead smoothly.
さくさくと + 動詞
Used as an adverb for a light crunch, a clean cut, or work that proceeds without delay.
さくさくの + 名詞
Modifies food or a result that feels light and flaky.
さくさくした + 名詞
A form that modifies something with a light, crumbly texture.
How to Use
Common Phrases
さくさく進む
to proceed smoothly without delay
さくさく動く
to run quickly and responsively
さくさくした食感
a light, flaky texture
さくさく食べる
to eat with a light crunch
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies, pastry, or light fried food | Positive | Used as praise for a dry, flaky texture that tastes good. |
| Work, apps, or phones | Positive | Marks a process that stays smooth and responds with no lag. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
かりかり かりかり / contrast | Use for a harder, drier crunch, such as fried bacon or a dense snack. | かりかり feels hard and dense. さくさく feels light and breaks apart, like a cookie or layered pastry. | かりかりのベーコン |
ぱりぱり ぱりぱり / similar | Use for a thin, brittle crunch, such as nori or a thin chip. | ぱりぱり highlights a thin layer that snaps. さくさく highlights a light crumb inside the food. | ぱりぱりの海苔 |
しっとり しっとり / contrast | Use for a pleasant moistness, such as a cake that stays damp inside or skin that is not dry. | しっとり carries moisture. さくさく marks food that is dry and flaky, not wet. | しっとりしたケーキ |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using さくさく for bacon or a dense, hard snack.
Use かりかり for a hard, dense crunch. さくさく is for a light crumb that breaks apart easily.
Using さくさく only for running or fast body movement.
さくさく on actions means moving ahead without obstacles, usually for work or a device, not raw physical speed.
Examples
Examples
焼きたてのクッキーはさくさくして美味しい。
やきたてのクッキーはさくさくして、おいしい。
The freshly baked cookies are crisp and delicious.
LiteralA dry, light texture that breaks apart in a cookie.
冬の朝、霜柱を踏むとさくさくと音がする。
ふゆのあさ、しもばしらをふむと、さくさくとおとがする。
On a winter morning, stepping on frost columns makes a light crunch.
VisualA light sound when the foot lands on thin ice crystals.
今日は集中しているので、仕事がさくさく進む。
きょうはしゅうちゅうしているので、しごとがさくさくすすむ。
Because the focus is there today, the work is moving ahead smoothly.
FigurativeA figurative use for work that proceeds without obstacles.
新しいスマホに変えたら、アプリがさくさく動くようになった。
あたらしいスマホにかえたら、アプリがさくさくうごくようになった。
After switching to a new phone, the apps started running smoothly.
FigurativeCommon praise for a device that responds with no lag.
キャベツを包丁でさくさくと千切りにする。
キャベツをほうちょうでさくさくとせんぎりにする。
The cabbage is shredded with a knife in light, crisp strokes.
LiteralA light, even sound when fresh vegetables are cut.
Similar Words
パリパリ
paripari
Describes a crisp, crunchy texture or sound, as well as the stiff feel of brand-new bills or starched shirts. A thin, brittle layer that snaps easily.
カリカリ
karikari
カリカリ describes a hard, crisp texture in food, a light repetitive scratching sound, or a state of being irritable and edgy. A harder, denser crunch, such as crisp bacon.
しっとり
shittori
Shittori describes something that is pleasantly moist and soft, or a calm, graceful, and serene atmosphere. A pleasant moistness, not a dry crunch.
Questions
How is it different from かりかり?
かりかり feels harder and denser, like crisp bacon. さくさく feels lighter and breaks apart, like a cookie.
What does it mean if a phone is さくさく?
The phone responds to touch smoothly, with no lag or stalling.
Can this word be used in formal settings?
It is casual. Fine in everyday workplace talk, but a poor fit for an official report.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1005130
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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