Entry
しゃなりしゃなり
shanarishanari
しゃなりしゃなり (shanari shanari) describes a graceful, swaying, or mincing manner of walking.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This word captures the image of someone walking with a smooth, elegant motion, often with a slight sway of the hips or shoulders. It is typically used for women walking gracefully, such as when wearing a kimono. However, it can also have a negative connotation, describing someone walking in an overly affected, pretentious, or mincing way to show off.
- graceful walking
- affected manner
Sense Map
Graceful Walking
Describes a smooth, elegant way of walking, often with a gentle swaying motion.
着物姿でしゃなりしゃなりと歩く。
Affected Manner
Can carry a slightly negative nuance when the walking style seems deliberately pretentious or overly mincing.
気取ってしゃなりしゃなり歩く。
Usage Note
How to Use
しゃなりしゃなりと + verb
Used as an adverb to describe how an action (usually walking) is performed gracefully.
しゃなりしゃなり + verb
しゃなりしゃなりする
Used as a verb to indicate the act of walking in this swaying, graceful manner.
How to Use
Common Phrases
しゃなりしゃなりと歩く
to walk gracefully
着物でしゃなりしゃなりと
swaying gracefully in a kimono
気取ってしゃなりしゃなり
walking affectedly with airs
しゃなりしゃなりした足取り
a graceful gait
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Woman in kimono | positive | Conveys an image of traditional elegance and charm. |
| Pretentious behavior | negative | Implies the person is acting overly refined or showing off. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ゆったり ゆったり / similar | Focuses on a relaxed, unhurried pace or feeling. | Does not specifically describe the physical swaying or graceful movement of the body. | ゆったりと歩く。 |
のっしのっし のっしのっし / opposite | Describes heavy, lumbering steps, like a large animal or a big man. | The exact opposite of the delicacy and grace of this word. | のっしのっしと歩く。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for a muscular man.
This word is almost exclusively used for women or delicate, graceful figures.
Using it for hand movements or running.
It is strictly used for a slow, walking gait.
Examples
Examples
着物姿の女性が、しゃなりしゃなりと歩いていく。
きものすがたの じょせいが、 しゃなりしゃなりと あるいて いく。
A woman in a kimono walks by gracefully.
VisualFocuses on the elegance of the movement of a woman wearing traditional clothing.
彼女は高価なドレスを着て、パーティーの会場をしゃなりしゃなりと歩き回った。
かのじょは こうかな ドレスを きて、 パーティーの かいじょうを しゃなりしゃなりと あるきまわった。
She wore an expensive dress and walked affectedly around the party venue.
FigurativeShows a slightly negative nuance where the gait seems showy or pretentious.
猫がしっぽを立てて、しゃなりしゃなりと近づいてきた。
ねこが しっぽを たてて、 しゃなりしゃなりと ちかづいて きた。
The cat raised its tail and approached with a graceful gait.
VisualThis word can also be used to describe the elegant movement of certain animals like cats.
舞台の上の女優は、しゃなりしゃなりとした足取りで登場した。
ぶたいの うえの じょゆうは、 しゃなりしゃなりとした あしどりで とうじょう した。
The actress on stage made her appearance with a graceful gait.
VisualDescribes a slow, beautiful movement that catches the audience's attention.
モデルたちはランウェイをしゃなりしゃなりと歩き、新作の服を披露した。
モデルたちは ランウェイを しゃなりしゃなりと あるき、 しんさくの ふくを ひろう した。
The models walked mincingly down the runway, showing off the new collection of clothes.
VisualDepicts the characteristic swaying walk of models to showcase the beauty of the clothes.
Similar Words
のっしのっし
nosshinosshi
Describes the slow, heavy, and lumbering gait of a massive creature or person. Walking heavily or clumsily, the opposite of graceful movement.
ゆったり
yuttari
ゆったり means having ample space, time, or emotional room, resulting in a relaxed, comfortable, and unhurried state. Moving in a relaxed manner, but does not inherently imply swaying or gracefulness.
Questions
Can I use しゃなりしゃなり for a man?
Usually not. It is strongly associated with feminine grace.
How is it different from ゆったり?
ゆったり means relaxed and unhurried, while this word specifically describes a swaying, elegant physical motion while walking.
Is this word always a compliment?
No, it can sometimes be used sarcastically to describe someone walking in a pretentious or show-off manner.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2801210
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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