にぎにぎ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

adverb, noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb

holding tightly; squeezing

usually written using kana alonechildren's language

Childish or onomatopoeic word for gripping or squeezing something repeatedly, often with the hands. Used adverbially or as a noun/する-verb.

赤あかちゃんがおもちゃをにぎにぎしている。
The baby is squeezing the toy tightly.

にぎにぎすると気き持もちいい。

It feels good when you squeeze it.

noun

onigiri; rice ball

usually written using kana alonechildren's language

Childish or affectionate term for an onigiri (rice ball), from the action of shaping it by hand.

お昼ひるはにぎにぎを持もってきた。
I brought rice balls for lunch.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

bribe; accepting a bribe

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Colloquial, often used in the phrase にぎにぎする meaning to accept a bribe, from the image of money being pressed into one's hand.

あの政せい治じ家かはにぎにぎして捕つかまったらしい。
That politician was apparently caught taking a bribe.

Written forms

にぎにぎUsage13%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 握々 and 握握 are rare or search-only.
ニギニギUsage87%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
握にぎ々にぎ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.

Kanji

握grip, hold, mould sushi

Similar words

握にぎる
Standard verb for 'to grip' or 'to hold'; にぎにぎ is a reduplicated, childish or onomatopoeic form.
おにぎり
Standard word for rice ball; にぎにぎ is a childish or affectionate variant.

Etymology

Reduplication of the stem of 握る (にぎる, 'to grip'), with a mimetic or childish nuance. The rice ball sense comes from the shaping action, and the bribe sense from the image of money being pressed into the hand.