Translation guide
Describes the manner of swallowing quickly, often due to nervousness, thirst, or eagerness. In Japanese, this is typically expressed with onomatopoeic adverbs or mimetic words that convey the sound or sensation of gulping.
To describe the action of swallowing in one quick motion, often due to nervousness, fear, or anticipation.
An onomatopoeic adverb mimicking the sound of a single gulp. Commonly used for swallowing drinks or saliva when nervous.
彼は緊張してごくんと唾を飲み込んだ。
He nervously swallowed his saliva with a gulp.
Similar to ごくんと, but can imply a slightly larger or more audible gulp. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts.
彼女は恐怖でごくりと息を飲んだ。
She gulped in fear.
Literally 'to swallow in one breath'. Used when someone downs a drink or swallows something quickly without pausing.
彼は薬を一気に飲み込んだ。
He swallowed the medicine with a gulp.
To describe drinking a beverage in large, eager gulps, often when very thirsty.
Onomatopoeia for gulping repeatedly, as when drinking thirstily. Implies multiple gulps in succession.
彼は冷たい水をごくごくと飲んだ。
He drank the cold water with big gulps.
Onomatopoeia for gulping down a drink greedily or in large quantities. Slightly more casual and emphatic than ごくごく.
暑くてビールをがぶがぶと飲んだ。
It was so hot I gulped down beer.
To express swallowing hard due to strong emotion, such as sadness, anger, or relief.
Uses the mimetic word ぐっと, which conveys doing something with force or effort. Often used when suppressing tears or emotions.
彼女は涙をぐっと飲み込んだ。
She swallowed her tears with a gulp.
Literally 'to swallow one's words'. Means to hold back what one was about to say, often with a gulp of hesitation.
彼は言いかけて言葉を飲み込んだ。
He started to speak but swallowed his words with a gulp.
Japanese has many onomatopoeic words for swallowing. ごくんと is for a single gulp, ごくごくと for repeated gulps, and がぶがぶと for greedy drinking. Use ぐっと for emotional suppression.
Avoid directly translating 'with a gulp' as a prepositional phrase. Japanese uses adverbs or mimetic words placed before the verb.