ちらちら

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

flickering; twinkling; glimmering

Describes small, repeated flashes or wavering light, such as a candle flame, stars, or reflected light.

• ろうそくの火ひがちらちらしている。

  The candle flame is flickering.

• 遠とおくで町まちの明あかりがちらちら光ひかっていた。

  The town lights were twinkling in the distance.

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

appearing and disappearing; catching glimpses

Used when something is only partly or repeatedly visible, as if seen through gaps or in brief flashes.

• 木き々ぎの間あいだから湖みずうみがちらちら見みえた。

  The lake appeared in glimpses through the trees.

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

glancing repeatedly

Used for looking briefly again and again; it is the repeated counterpart of ちらっと in this use.

See also: ちらっと

• 彼かれは会かい議ぎ中ちゅう、時計とけいをちらちら見みていた。

  During the meeting, he kept glancing at the clock.

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

from time to time; intermittently

Used with seeing or hearing something only occasionally, often in small repeated instances rather than as a steady presence.

• その名な前まえは最さい近きん、ニュースでちらちら見みかける。

  I have been seeing that name in the news from time to time lately.

• 彼かれのうわさを社しゃ内ないでちらちら耳みみにする。

  I hear rumors about him around the company from time to time.