ちょこまか

ちょ

こ

ま

か

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

ちょこまかする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

Describes small, quick, continuous movements, often of a person or animal that cannot stay still. Can be used adverbially with と or as a する-verb.

〈人ひと〉がちょこまか(と)動うごくfor someone to move about restlessly in small, quick motions
子こ供どもが部屋へやの中なかをちょこまかと動うごき回まわっている。
The child is running around the room in quick, restless motions.
〈人ひと〉がちょこまかするfor someone to fidget or bustle about
彼かれはいつもちょこまかしていて落おち着つきがない。
He's always fidgeting and can never sit still.
ちょこまか(と)歩あるくto walk with small, quick steps
小ちいさな犬いぬがちょこまかと歩あるいてついてきた。
The little dog followed along, trotting with quick little steps.

ちょこちょこ
ちょこちょこ describes quick, light movements with a cheerful or busy tone, while ちょこまか often carries a nuance of restlessness or mild annoyance.
うろちょろ
うろちょろ emphasizes aimless wandering back and forth that gets in the way, whereas ちょこまか focuses on small, quick, fidgety motion.
せかせかN1
せかせか describes a hurried, impatient manner of acting (often mentally rushed), while ちょこまか is about physically small, quick movements.

のっそりN1
のっそり describes slow, lumbering movement, the direct opposite of the quick, restless motion described by ちょこまか.

Mimetic word; the exact derivation is uncertain, but it is likely related to the sound-symbolic element ちょこ, which suggests small, quick movements.