Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

こっくりこっくり Japanese meaning | Kotomora

こっくりこっくり

Meanings

1

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

nodding off; dozing; niddle-noddle

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Mimetic word describing the repetitive head-bobbing motion of someone fighting sleep, often while sitting.

会かい議ぎ中ちゅう、彼かれはこっくりこっくりと船ふねを漕こいでいた。
During the meeting, he was nodding off, his head bobbing up and down.

電でん車しゃで隣となりの人ひとがこっくりこっくりしている。

The person next to me on the train is dozing off, head nodding.

Similar words

うとうと
うとうと describes the state of being drowsy or half-asleep, while こっくりこっくり specifically focuses on the visible head-nodding motion.
居い眠ねむり
居眠り is a noun/suru verb meaning 'dozing while sitting' or 'napping unintentionally,' whereas こっくりこっくり is the mimetic adverb for the nodding motion itself.

Etymology

Mimetic word derived from the sound and motion of the head dropping forward when dozing. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a reduplicated form of こっくり, which imitates a nodding or tipping motion.