Translation guide
Describes quiet, careful walking to avoid detection. Japanese uses onomatopoeia, mimetic words, and descriptive phrases rather than a single noun.
To describe the sound or manner of walking quietly to avoid being heard
Literally 'stealthy steps', often paired with 差し足 (さしあし) or 忍び足 (しのびあし). Used in set phrases.
To describe the faint sound of careful footsteps
In casual speech, adverbs like こっそり or そっと combined with a verb of movement are more common than specific nouns for 'stealthy footsteps'.
There is no single Japanese noun that directly translates 'stealthy footsteps' in all contexts. Using 忍び足 or 抜き足 is natural in set phrases, but often a phrase like 足音を立てずに (without making footsteps) is more idiomatic.
抜き足差し足で近づく
to approach with stealthy footsteps
Stealthy or noiseless footsteps, often used for sneaking around.
忍び足で廊下を歩く
to walk down the hallway with stealthy footsteps
Adverb meaning 'stealthily' or 'secretly', often used with verbs of movement.
こっそりと足音を立てずに歩く
to walk stealthily without making footsteps
Adverb meaning 'softly' or 'quietly', implying gentle, careful movement.
そっと足を運ぶ
to move one's feet quietly
Literally 'to kill one's footsteps', meaning to walk without making sound.
足音を殺して忍び寄る
to sneak up with muffled footsteps
Onomatopoeia for light, quick, quiet footsteps, often used in literary contexts.
すたすたと歩く足音
the sound of light, quick footsteps