Entry
スンスン
sunsun
スンスン is a mimetic word (onomatopoeia) for the light, repeated sound of sniffling, holding back tears, or lightly sniffing the air.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
In Japanese, スンスン describes a light inhaling sound through the nose. It is typically used when someone is crying quietly and trying to hold back their tears, has a slightly runny nose, or is actively sniffing to catch a scent, similar to how a small animal twitches its nose.
- sniffling from crying or cold
- sniffing a scent
Sense Map
Sniffling (Crying)
The light sound of someone sniffling because of a mildly runny nose or while trying to hold back quiet tears.
スンスン泣く
Sniffing (Smelling)
The light, repeated sound of sniffing the air to smell something, often done by animals or people investigating a scent.
においをスンスン嗅ぐ
Usage Note
How to Use
スンスンする
Functions as a verb meaning 'to sniffle' or 'to sniff the air'.
スンスンと + verb
Functions as an adverb describing how an action (like crying or smelling) is performed.
スンスン + verb
A slightly more casual adverbial usage without the particle 'to'.
How to Use
Common Phrases
スンスン泣く
to cry with soft sniffling sounds
鼻をスンスンさせる
to twitch one's nose / to make a sniffling sound
においをスンスン嗅ぐ
to sniff at a smell
スンスンしている
is sniffling / is sniffing
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet crying / Emotional | sad | Describes holding back tears or weeping softly without vocalizing much. |
| Smelling an odor | curious | Commonly used for describing a pet like a rabbit or cat sniffing food, or a person catching a whiff of something pleasant. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
くすん くすん / similar | When describing a single, quiet sniffle to express slight sadness or a small tear. | スンスン is more repeated and is also used for smelling, whereas くすん is primarily a stylized expression of sadness. | くすんと泣く。 |
ぐすぐす ぐすぐす / similar | When a person's nose is heavily stuffed up or running from a bad cold. | スンスン is a very light, dry sound, whereas ぐすぐす sounds wet and heavily congested. | 鼻がぐすぐすする。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for loud crying or bawling.
Use words like わんわん (wanwan) for loud crying. スンスン is only for quiet, suppressed sniffling.
Using it for a severely blocked nose.
If the nose is heavily congested and making wet sounds, ぐすぐす (gusugusu) is more appropriate.
Examples
Examples
彼女は悲しそうにスンスン泣いていた。
彼女(かのじょ)は悲(かな)しそうにスンスン泣(な)いていた。
She was crying sadly, sniffling softly.
LiteralDescribes the sound of suppressed sniffling.
猫が私の手をスンスン嗅いできた。
猫(ねこ)が私(わたし)の手(て)をスンスン嗅(か)いできた。
The cat came over and sniffed my hand.
LiteralDescribes a pet sniffing curiously.
花粉症で一日中鼻がスンスンする。
花粉症(かふんしょう)で一日中(いちにちじゅう)鼻(はな)がスンスンする。
My nose is sniffling all day because of hay fever.
LiteralIndicates a slightly runny nose.
どこからかいい匂いがして、思わずスンスンしてしまった。
どこからかいい匂(にお)いがして、思(おも)わずスンスンしてしまった。
A delicious smell drifted over from somewhere, and I instinctively sniffed the air.
LiteralSniffing the air because of a pleasant smell.
彼は風邪を引いたのか、さっきからスンスンしている。
彼(かれ)は風邪(かぜ)を引(ひ)いたのか、さっきからスンスンしている。
He might have caught a cold; he's been sniffling for a while now.
LiteralEarly signs of a mild cold.
Similar Words
くすん
kusun
Kusun and gusun describe the sound of a short intake of breath through the nose, typical of soft crying or having a runny nose. For a single, quiet sniffle of sadness.
ぐすぐす
gusugusu
Gusugusu describes the sound of sniffling or a stuffy nose due to a cold, allergies, or crying. For a heavily congested, stuffy nose.
Questions
Can I use this for a dog sniffing the ground?
Yes, it is perfectly natural to use it for an animal sniffing the air or investigating a scent.
What is the difference between スンスン and クンクン (kunkun)?
They are very similar. クンクン is strongly associated with pets (especially dogs) actively sniffing, while スンスン is equally common for human sniffling or crying.
Is this polite enough for a formal speech?
No, it is a colloquial onomatopoeia best kept for casual conversation and storytelling.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2859273
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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