さらさら

さ

ら

さ

ら

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

さらさらする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

rustling; with a light rustling sound

Describes a soft, dry rustling sound, like leaves, paper, or silk brushing together.

rippling; murmuring; purling

Used for the gentle sound of a shallow stream or brook flowing over pebbles.

slurping down (ochazuke)

Specifically for the sound of eating ochazuke (rice with tea) quickly and noisily. A specialized mimetic use.

〈物もの〉がさらさらと音おとを立たてるfor something to make a light rustling sound
風かぜで木この葉はがさらさらと音おとを立たてた。
The leaves rustled softly in the wind.
〈場ば所しょ〉で川かわがさらさら流ながれるfor a stream to flow with a gentle murmuring sound
山やまの中なかで小お川がわがさらさらと流ながれている。
A brook is murmuring through the mountains.
〈物もの〉をさらさらと食たべるto slurp down (ochazuke) quickly and noisily
忙いそがしかったので、お茶ちゃ漬づけをさらさらと食たべた。
I was busy, so I quickly slurped down some ochazuke.
〈物もの〉をさらさらと書かくto write something smoothly and without hesitation
彼かの女じょは手て紙がみをさらさらと書かいた。
She wrote the letter smoothly and quickly.
〈物もの〉がさらさらになるfor something to become smooth, dry, and free-flowing
シャンプーを変かえたら、髪かみがさらさらになった。
After I changed shampoos, my hair became silky and smooth.

すらすらN3sense 4
さらさら can describe writing or speaking smoothly with ease, while すらすら is used more specifically for fluent, uninterrupted speech or reading.
カサカサN2
サラサラ describes a smooth, light rustling or flowing sound (e.g. silk, hair), whereas カサカサ describes a drier, coarser rustling sound.

ざらざらN1sense 5
さらさら describes a smooth, dry, non-sticky texture (like silky hair or fine powder), while ざらざら describes a rough, gritty feel.
ベタベタN1
さらさら describes something dry, smooth, and non-sticky, the opposite of ベタベタ's tacky, clinging texture.
ねばねばN1
さらさら describes a smooth, dry, non-sticky texture, the opposite of the gluey, viscous feel of ねばねば.

Show 3 more

じっとりN1
さらさら describes something dry and smooth to the touch, the opposite of the damp, clammy feel of じっとり.
とろとろN1
さらさら describes a smooth, runny, non-sticky texture, the opposite of とろとろ's thick, syrupy consistency.
ぬるぬるN1
さらさら describes a dry, smoothly-flowing texture (like fine sand or clean hair), the opposite of the wet, slippery feel of ぬるぬる.

ざらざらN1
ざらざら and さらさら differ by only one sound but describe opposite textures: ざらざら is rough and gritty, while さらさら is smooth, dry, and flowing.
すらすらN3
すらすら and さらさら sound similar, but すらすら means doing something fluently and easily while さらさら describes a light, dry, smooth texture or flow, like sand or hair.

A mimetic word (onomatopoeia) of uncertain origin, likely imitative of light, continuous sounds or textures.