おろおろ

お

ろ

お

ろ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

おろおろする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes a state of being so upset or bewildered that one cannot act calmly; often used with する or と.

Used when someone is crying or speaking with a shaky voice due to distress; often collocates with 泣く or 声.

おろおろするto become flustered, unable to act calmly
突とつ然ぜんの質しつ問もんに彼かれはおろおろした。
He became flustered by the sudden question.
おろおろ声ごえで〈動詞どうし〉〉to say/call out in a trembling, distressed voice
彼かの女じょはおろおろ声ごえで助たすけを求もとめた。
She called for help in a trembling voice.
おろおろと〈動どう詞し〉to do something in a helplessly flustered manner
母はははおろおろと部屋へやを歩あるき回まわった。
My mother paced the room helplessly, not knowing what to do.
おろおろ（と）泣なくto cry helplessly, sobbing in distress
子こ供どもは迷子まいごになっておろおろと泣ないていた。
The lost child was crying helplessly.

あたふたN1sense 1
あたふた emphasizes hurried, flustered physical movement, while おろおろ focuses on emotional confusion and the inability to act calmly.
うろうろN3sense 1
うろうろ describes aimless wandering or loitering without a clear purpose, whereas おろおろ implies distress and helplessness in a difficult situation.
まごまごN2sense 1
まごまご describes hesitating or being at a loss over what to do next, similar to おろおろ, but without the strong emotional distress that おろおろ carries.
どぎまぎN1sense 1
どぎまぎ describes a brief flustered reaction to embarrassment or surprise, while おろおろ describes a more prolonged state of helpless confusion.
たじたじN1
おろおろ emphasizes flustered, panicky behavior with visible agitation, while たじたじ focuses on being mentally overwhelmed or losing composure under pressure.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it is thought to derive from the sound or appearance of flustered, helpless behavior.