うとうと

also: うとっと

う

と

う

と

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

うとうとする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes the state of being half-asleep, often while sitting or in a relaxed position. Commonly used with する or と.

〈人ひと〉がうとうとするfor someone to doze off
電でん車しゃの中なかでうとうとしてしまった。
I ended up dozing off on the train.
うとうとと〈動どう詞し〉to drift off drowsily while doing something
授じゅ業ぎょう中ちゅうにうとうとと居い眠ねむりしてしまった。
I dozed off drowsily during class.
〈場ば所しょ〉でうとうとするto doze off in/at a place
ソファでうとうとしているうちに夜よるになった。
I dozed off on the sofa, and before I knew it, it was night.

うつらうつら
うつらうつら describes a longer, more drawn-out drifting in and out of sleep, while うとうと is a shorter, lighter doze.
居い眠ねむりN3
居眠り is a noun for unintentionally falling asleep in a situation where one should stay awake, whereas うとうと describes the light, half-asleep sensation itself.
とろとろN1
うとうと describes lightly dozing off, similar to とろとろ's drowsy-napping sense but focuses purely on the sleepy state rather than the languid, relaxed feeling とろとろ can carry.

ぐっすりN3
ぐっすり means sleeping deeply and soundly, the opposite of うとうと's light, intermittent dozing.

Onomatopoeic or mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it imitates the sound or feeling of light, intermittent sleep.