Related words 少すこ しずつ 少しずつ is a more general and neutral way to say 'little by little', while ちびちび carries a mimetic, often colloquial nuance of doing something in tiny, careful increments, especially with consumption.
Opposites ごくごく means drinking in big, fast gulps, while ちびちび means sipping slowly in small amounts.
ちびちび means drinking little by little in small sips, the opposite of がぶがぶ 's fast, large gulps.
Written forms ちびちび Usage 60%
Standard kana spelling for this mimetic adverb.
チビチビ Usage 21%
ちびりちびり Usage 13%
Less common variant; conveys the same meaning but is rarely used.
チビリチビリ Usage 6%
Etymology Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from the reduplication of ちび (small, tiny) to express doing something in small amounts.
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