Entry
うっそり
ussori
A state of being completely absentminded, vacant, or doing things carelessly.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
A word describing the condition when someone loses focus, stares blankly into space, or acts unconsciously. It often implies a dullness of mind, leading to carelessness or being in a daze because one's thoughts are elsewhere.
- Staring into space with a blank mind.
- Acting carelessly due to being zoned out.
Sense Map
Absentminded / Vacant
A state where the mind is blank, lacking focus, and staring into space without thinking of anything.
窓の外をうっそり見つめる
Careless / In a Daze
Doing something without full attention or concentration because one is mentally zoned out.
うっそりしていて約束を忘れる
Usage Note
How to Use
うっそり（と） + verb
うっそりしている
Describes the ongoing state or condition of someone continuously being in a daze or absentminded.
うっそりする
To become absentminded or mentally lose focus.
How to Use
Common Phrases
うっそりと立つ
to stand vacantly
うっそりと見つめる
to stare absentmindedly
うっそりしている
to be in a daze
うっそり歩く
to walk in a daze
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| General Mental State | Neutral to negative | Implies a lack of necessary alertness or clarity of thought in a given situation. |
| Making Mistakes | Negative | Shows that an error occurred because the person was not mentally present, rather than just a fleeting moment of clumsiness. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ぼんやり ぼんやり / similar | Use for general daydreaming, loose focus, or when things are literally unclear (like fog). It is a much more common word. | うっそり specifically emphasizes a dull, vacant state of mind, and has a slightly more literary or less common feel. | ぼんやりと外を見る。 |
うっかり うっかり / similar | Use when describing an inadvertent mistake or slip-up made due to a momentary lapse in attention. | うっそり describes the ongoing dazed or zoned-out state itself, rather than the isolated mistake. | うっかり秘密を話す。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using うっそり instead of ぼんやり in daily casual conversation.
ぼんやり is much more common and natural. うっそり can sound slightly unusual or literary to native speakers if used casually.
Thinking うっそり and うっかり mean exactly the same thing due to their similar sound.
うっかり is used specifically for instantaneous mistakes (an 'oops' moment), while うっそり refers to an ongoing blank or dazed state of mind.
Examples
Examples
彼は何も考えず、窓の外をうっそりと見つめていた。
かれはなにもかんがえず、まどのそとをうっそりとみつめていた。
He stared vacantly out the window, thinking of nothing in particular.
VisualFocuses on the visual appearance of staring blankly.
寝不足のせいか、今日の彼女はずっとうっそりしている。
ねぶそくのせいか、きょうのかのじょはずっとうっそりしている。
Perhaps due to a lack of sleep, she has been in a daze all day today.
LiteralDescribes an ongoing vacant state of mind.
うっそりしていて、大事な約束を忘れるところだった。
うっそりしていて、だいじなやくそくをわすれるところだった。
I was so absentminded that I almost forgot an important appointment.
LiteralShows carelessness resulting from being absentminded.
道で呼ばれたのに、うっそり歩いていて気づかなかった。
みちでよばれたのに、うっそりあるいていてきづかなかった。
I was called out on the street, but I was walking in such a daze that I didn't notice.
LiteralModifies the action of walking to indicate a lack of awareness.
テレビをつけたまま、ソファーでうっそりと座っていた。
テレビをつけたまま、ソファーでうっそりとすわっていた。
I sat vacantly on the sofa with the TV still on.
LiteralPortrays a common scenario of zoning out while doing nothing.
Similar Words
ぼんやり
bonyari
This word describes something that lacks clarity and sharpness, either visually blurry and dim, or a state of spacing out and being absentminded. Much more commonly used for being absentminded or things being generally unclear.
うっかり
ukkari
Doing something by mistake or forgetting something due to a momentary lapse in concentration. Focuses on the exact moment of making a careless mistake.
うっとり
uttori
Describes a state of being completely captivated or enchanted by something beautiful, often looking dreamy.
ぼーっと
bootto
A state of being mentally unfocused, seeing things dimly, or a sudden flaring of flames.
Questions
Is うっそり common in daily conversation?
Not really. The word 'bonyari' is much more common. 'Ussori' sounds a bit more literary or specific.
Can I use うっそり for making a mistake?
You can use it to describe the prolonged dazed state of mind that led to a mistake, but for the mistake itself, 'ukkari' is more natural.
Does うっそり mean the same as うっとり?
No. They are often confused by learners because they sound similar. 'Uttori' means being spellbound or entranced by something beautiful, while 'ussori' means being vacantly absentminded.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2787340
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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