ぶすぶす

adverb taking the 'to' particle, adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

sputtering; smoldering

Describes the sound or state of something burning slowly with small crackling noises, or a fire that is not blazing but smoldering. Often used with 燃える or くすぶる.

• たき火びがぶすぶすと燃もえている。

  The bonfire is sputtering and burning.

• 湿しめった薪まきがぶすぶすいってなかなか燃もえ上あがらない。

  The damp firewood is smoldering and won't catch fire easily.

adverb taking the 'to' particle, adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

pricking repeatedly; thrusting into

Mimetic for the action of repeatedly sticking something sharp into something, like a needle or a sword. Often used with 刺す or 突く.

• 彼かれは人にん形ぎょうに針はりをぶすぶす刺さした。

  He repeatedly stuck needles into the doll.

• 子こ供どもが粘ねん土どに鉛えん筆ぴつをぶすぶす突つき刺さして遊あそんでいた。

  The child was playing by repeatedly jabbing a pencil into the clay.

adverb taking the 'to' particle, adverb, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

muttering discontent; faint complaints

Only with reading ブスブス / ぶすぶす

Describes low, indistinct grumbling or complaining, often under one's breath. Restricted to the voiced readings ブスブス and ぶすぶす.

• 彼かれはぶすぶすと文もん句くを言いいながら片かた付づけた。

  He cleaned up while muttering complaints under his breath.

• 会かい議ぎの後あと、社しゃ員いんたちはぶすぶす不ふ満まんをもらしていた。

  After the meeting, the employees were grumbling their discontent.