Entry
ずんずん
zunzun
Describes steady, forceful, and rapid forward movement or progress without hesitation.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Used to depict continuous and vigorous progress, such as walking with purpose, a project advancing rapidly, or a child growing fast. It emphasizes moving forward steadily without stopping or being hindered. It can also refer to the deep, booming sound of a large drum or heavy bass.
- Rapid and steady forward movement
- Vigorous progress or growth
- Deep booming sound
Sense Map
Movement and Action
Moving forward briskly, strongly, and without pausing or hesitating.
ずんずん歩く
Progress and Growth
Something developing or advancing very quickly without any obstacles.
仕事がずんずん進む
Sound
A heavy, vibrating noise, such as a large drum or loud bass music.
太鼓がズンズン響く
Usage Note
How to Use
ずんずん + verb
Used directly before a verb to describe the steady and rapid manner in which the action is performed.
ずんずんと + verb
Adding the particle と adds a slight emphasis to the state of movement, but the meaning remains identical.
How to Use
Common Phrases
ずんずん進む
progress rapidly / advance steadily
ずんずん歩く
walk briskly / walk with purpose
ずんずん伸びる
grow rapidly
ずんずん入る
enter directly without hesitation
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Walking posture | neutral | Depicts a confident, purposeful stride, oblivious to surroundings and focused solely on the destination. |
| Work progress | positive | Shows that there are no bottlenecks and tasks are being completed faster than expected. |
| Listening to music | neutral | Refers to heavy bass beats; frequently used in noise complaints regarding neighbors. |
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 focusing on continuous, powerful upward growth, improvement, or a strong pulling force. | Unlike zunzun which focuses on forward physical movement through space without hesitation, gungun is more about stretching, pulling, or elevating in status/size. | ぐんぐん育つ |
どんどん どんどん / similar | Use when things are happening one after another consecutively, or amounts are increasing rapidly. | Dondon highlights consecutive occurrences or accumulation. Zunzun highlights the unyielding, steady forward attitude of a single moving subject. | 人がどんどん来る |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe absolute speed, like a bullet train passing by.
Zunzun is about steady, unhesitating momentum and progress, not just pure mechanical speed in an instant.
Assuming it is always rude to do something 'zunzun'.
The word itself is neutral. While walking straight into someone's room 'zunzun' implies ignoring social boundaries (and thus might be rude), working 'zunzun' on a project is highly positive.
Examples
Examples
彼は振り返ることもなく、ずんずん歩いていった。
かれはふりかえることもなく、ずんずんあるいていった。
He walked on briskly without even looking back.
LiteralShows the action of walking forward without hesitation or stopping.
みんなが協力してくれたおかげで、仕事がずんずん進んでいる。
みんながきょうりょくしてくれたおかげで、しごとがずんずんすすんでいる。
Thanks to everyone's cooperation, the work is progressing rapidly.
FigurativeDescribes the progress of a project without any obstacles.
子供はよく食べて、ずんずんと背が伸びている。
こどもはよくたべて、ずんずんとせがのびている。
The child eats well and is growing taller rapidly.
VisualIndicates fast and visible physical growth.
彼女は遠慮することなく、部屋の奥へずんずんと入っていった。
かのじょはえんりょすることなく、へやのおくへずんずんとはいっていった。
She went straight into the back of the room without any hesitation.
LiteralHighlights a bold movement that ignores usual social boundaries.
遠くからお祭りの太鼓の音がズンズン響いてくる。
とおくからおまつりのたいこのおとがズンズンひびいてくる。
The booming sound of the festival drums is echoing from afar.
VisualUses katakana to highlight the heavy, vibrating sound.
Similar Words
ぐんぐん
gungun
Describes a process of growth, progress, or recovery that happens very quickly and with great momentum. Focuses on stretching or powerful upward growth.
どんどん
dondon
どんどん describes something progressing very quickly, someone acting without hesitation, or the sound of repeated loud banging. Focuses on sequential occurrences or a continuous increase in quantity.
Questions
Can I use zunzun for a fast-moving car?
Yes, if you want to emphasize that the car is relentlessly making its way through a route without stopping, but for pure speed, other words are more natural.
What is the difference between zunzun and dondon?
Dondon is used when events happen sequentially or quantities pile up. Zunzun is about the strong forward movement of a single entity without stopping.
Is zunzun always a positive word?
It is generally neutral or positive when indicating progress. However, it can have a negative tinge if someone pushes forward while ignoring the feelings of people around them.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 1006470
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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