Entry
すくすく
sukusuku
Sukusuku describes the healthy, rapid, and unhindered growth of living things such as children or plants.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
The word sukusuku is used to describe a very healthy and smooth growth process. It always carries a positive nuance and generally refers to babies, children, young animals, or plants that are developing beautifully without any health issues or physical setbacks.
- growing healthily (children/animals)
- thriving vigorously (plants)
Sense Map
Children & Animals
Growing up healthy, smoothly, and without illness (for babies, children, or young animals).
赤ちゃんがすくすく育つ。
Plants
Growing vigorously and quickly due to favorable environmental conditions.
植物がすくすくと成長する。
Usage Note
How to Use
すくすく育つ
すくすくと育つ
すくすく成長する
すくすく伸びる
How to Use
Common Phrases
すくすく育つ
to grow up healthily
すくすくと育つ
to grow up healthily (with 'to')
すくすく成長する
to develop excellently
すくすく伸びる
to shoot up / grow tall healthily
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Children and Babies | positive | Conveys the speaker's relief, warmth, and happiness at seeing the child thrive without illness. |
| Plants and Crops | positive | Indicates that the plants are receiving plenty of sunlight, water, and nutrients, showing visible vitality. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぐんぐん ぐんぐん / similar | Use when emphasizing the raw power, speed, or incredible momentum of progress. Can be used for non-living things (economy, skills). | Sukusuku is strictly for living things and emphasizes 'health and lack of obstacles' rather than just pure speed and force. | ぐんぐん背が伸びる |
にょきにょき にょきにょき / similar | Use when highlighting the visual image of long objects sprouting or popping up one after another (like mushrooms, bamboo shoots, buildings). | Sukusuku focuses on the overall well-being of the growth process, whereas nyokinyoki is purely a visual description of shape and popping movement. | きのこがにょきにょき生える |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using sukusuku for economic or business growth (e.g., 経済がすくすく成長する).
Use gungun (ぐんぐん) or dondon (どんどん) for non-living progress. Sukusuku is strictly for living entities.
Using sukusuku for running really fast (e.g., すくすく走る).
Sukusuku refers to the biological process of maturing and growing, not physical speed of movement.
Examples
Examples
赤ちゃんは毎日すくすくと育っています。
あかちゃんはまいにちすくすくとそだっています。
The baby is growing up quickly and healthily every day.
LiteralThe most common usage referring to human growth in early stages.
庭に植えた木がすくすく成長している。
にわにうえたきがすくすくせいちょうしている。
The tree planted in the garden is growing vigorously.
VisualUsed for plants that are visually thriving.
子犬たちがすくすく育つ姿を見るのは嬉しい。
こいぬたちがすくすくそだつすがたをみるのはうれしい。
It's a joy to see the puppies growing up healthily.
LiteralExpresses the positive emotion of the observer watching pets grow.
太陽の光を浴びて、野菜がすくすくと伸びていく。
たいようのひかりをあびて、やさいがすくすくとのびていく。
Bathing in the sunlight, the vegetables are shooting up healthily.
VisualFocuses on the visual imagery of the crops elongating and thriving.
子供たちは自然の中で自由に、すくすく育った。
こどもたちはしぜんのなかでじゆうに、すくすくそだった。
The children grew up freely and healthily in nature.
LiteralDescribes the completed process of growth (past tense).
Similar Words
ずんずん
zunzun
Describes steady, forceful, and rapid forward movement or progress without hesitation.
にょきにょき
nyokinyoki
Describes things vigorously sprouting, shooting upward, or growing rapidly one after another. Emphasizes the visual sight of things sprouting upward.
ぐんぐん
gungun
Describes a process of growth, progress, or recovery that happens very quickly and with great momentum. Emphasizes power and momentum of progress.
Questions
Can I use 'sukusuku' to describe my own growth?
It sounds a bit unnatural and boastful to use it for yourself in the present tense. It is mostly used objectively for others, though it can be used when reminiscing about your childhood in a narrative way.
Does it mean the growth is abnormally fast?
No. It highlights that the growth is ideal, smooth, and unhindered, which naturally results in good, steady progress, not a bizarre mutation.
Can I use 'sukusuku' for someone recovering quickly from an illness?
No. It is exclusively for the maturation process from young to adult, not for recovery from a sick state.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2008410
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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