Entry
とくとく
tokutoku
とくとく (tokutoku) is an onomatopoeia for the rhythmic, gurgling sound of liquid being poured from a narrow opening.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
In Japanese, とくとく (tokutoku) captures the 'glug-glug' sound made when pouring liquid from a container with a narrow neck, such as a wine or sake bottle. It highlights a clean, pleasant, and rhythmic flow of liquid.
- pouring from a bottle
- gurgling sound of liquid
Sense Map
Sound of pouring liquid
Describes the rhythmic sound that occurs when pouring liquid from a narrow-necked bottle.
グラスにワインをとくとくと注ぐ。
Gurgling flow
Describes the sound of liquid flowing out in a rhythmic, gurgling pattern.
お酒がトクトクと音を立てる。
Usage Note
How to Use
とくとくと + verb
The most common adverbial form, typically followed by an action verb like 注ぐ (to pour) or 音を立てる (to make a sound).
とくとく + verb
The adverbial use without the と particle, which carries the same meaning but sounds slightly more casual.
How to Use
Common Phrases
とくとくと注ぐ
pour with a glug-glug sound
お酒をとくとく注ぐ
pour sake with a glugging sound
トクトクと音を立てる
make a glug-glug noise
ビンからトクトクと
glug-glug from a bottle
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pouring alcoholic drinks (sake/wine) | positive | Conveys an elegant and highly anticipated action for the listener. |
| Flow of water from a narrow bottle | neutral | Emphasizes the rhythm and the unbroken flow. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ちゃぷちゃぷ ちゃぷちゃぷ / similar | When liquid is splashing lightly inside a container or in a shallow pool. | Does not describe the sound of pouring liquid out of a bottle. | お風呂のお湯がちゃぷちゃぷ鳴る。 |
どぼどぼ どぼどぼ / contrast | When a large amount of liquid, or a thick liquid, is poured out roughly and heavily. | Lacks the light, rhythmic and clean sound of とくとく. | 牛乳をどぼどぼと注ぐ。 |
ごくごく ごくごく / similar | When gulping down a drink continuously. | ごくごく is the sound of drinking, while とくとく is the sound of pouring. | 水をごくごく飲む。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for the sound of crashing waves or large amounts of spilled water.
Use とくとく specifically for a rhythmic, small flow from a narrow bottle, not for splashing or overflowing water.
Interpreting it as the sound of drinking.
とくとく is the sound of pouring liquid, whereas the sound of drinking is がぶがぶ (gabugabu) or ごくごく (gokugoku).
Examples
Examples
彼はワイングラスにワインをとくとくと注いだ。
かれはワイングラスにワインをとくとくとそそいだ。
He poured wine into the wine glass with a glug-glug sound.
LiteralIndicates the elegant rhythmic sound of liquid flowing out.
徳利からお酒がトクトクと音を立てて盃に注がれた。
とっくりからおさけがトクトクとおとをたててさかずきにそそがれた。
Sake was poured into the cup, making a glugging sound from the sake bottle.
LiteralA very common usage to describe the pleasant experience of serving sake.
水筒の水をコップにとくとく移す。
すいとうのみずをコップにとくとくうつす。
Transferring water from a thermos to a cup with a glug-glug sound.
LiteralFocuses on the rhythmically repeating flow of water.
オリーブオイルの瓶を傾けると、トクトクと流れ出てきた。
オリーブオイルのびんをかたむけると、トクトクとながれでてきた。
When tilting the olive oil bottle, it flowed out with a glugging rhythm.
VisualEmphasizes the visual rhythmic flow coming out of the narrow bottle.
醤油を小皿にトクトクと垂らした。
しょうゆをこざらにトクトクとたらした。
Dripped soy sauce onto a small plate with a rhythmic glug from the dispenser.
LiteralA small rhythmic sound from the narrow spout of a soy sauce dispenser.
Similar Words
ちゃぷちゃぷ
chapuchapu
ちゃぷちゃぷ describes the light, gentle sound of splashing water or liquid sloshing inside a container. Used for water rippling inside a container, not pouring out.
ドボドボ
dobodobo
Describes the heavy, continuous sound and motion of a large amount of liquid being poured, running, or spilling. The opposite of とくとく; describes the heavy, rough pouring of a large amount or thick liquid.
Questions
What is the difference between とくとく and どぼどぼ?
とくとく is the light, rhythmic sound from a narrow bottle, while どぼどぼ is the rough sound of thick liquid or a large amount being poured heavily.
Can とくとく be used for tap water?
Usually no. Water flowing vigorously from a tap is better described with ざあざあ (zaazaa) or じょろじょろ (jorojoro).
Is this word often written in katakana?
Yes, as a sound onomatopoeia, writing it as トクトク (katakana) is very common in manga or novels.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2628810
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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