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.
Stealthy or noiseless footsteps, often used for sneaking around.
Adverb meaning 'stealthily' or 'secretly', often used with verbs of movement.
Adverb meaning 'softly' or 'quietly', implying gentle, careful movement.
Literally 'to kill one's footsteps', meaning to walk without making sound.
To describe the faint sound of careful footsteps
Onomatopoeia for light, quick, quiet footsteps, often used in literary contexts.
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.
to approach with stealthy footsteps
忍び足で廊下を歩く
to walk down the hallway with stealthy footsteps
こっそりと足音を立てずに歩く
to walk stealthily without making footsteps
to move one's feet quietly
to sneak up with muffled footsteps
the sound of light, quick footsteps
Onomatopoeia for quiet, graceful footsteps, especially of a woman in traditional attire.
a woman walking with quiet, graceful steps