とぼとぼ

と

ぼ

と

ぼ

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

trudging; plodding; walking slowly with heavy steps

Describes walking slowly and wearily, often with a sense of dejection or exhaustion. Commonly used with 歩く or as an adverb with と.

とぼとぼ（と）歩あるくto trudge along, walking slowly and wearily
彼かれは肩かたを落おとして、とぼとぼと歩あるいていた。
He walked along dejectedly, shoulders slumped.
とぼとぼ（と）帰かえるto trudge home wearily
試し合あいに負まけて、とぼとぼと家いえに帰かえった。
After losing the match, he trudged home dejectedly.

よぼよぼ
よぼよぼ describes an unsteady, tottering gait often due to old age, while とぼとぼ focuses on trudging wearily or dejectedly.
のろのろN3
のろのろ emphasizes general slowness in movement or action, while とぼとぼ specifically describes a heavy, weary way of walking.
すごすごN1
すごすご describes leaving or retreating in disappointment, while とぼとぼ describes the tired, plodding manner of walking itself.
てくてくN1
とぼとぼ implies a dejected, weary trudge, while てくてく just describes a steady, persistent walking pace without necessarily conveying sadness.

さっさとN2
さっさと describes moving briskly and without delay, the opposite of the slow, weary pace suggested by とぼとぼ.

とぼけるN1
とぼける sounds similar to とぼとぼ but means to play dumb or feign ignorance, unrelated to walking.
すごすごN1
とぼとぼ describes a slow, weary way of walking regardless of emotional cause, while すごすご specifically implies a dejected retreat after disappointment.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it phonetically imitates the sound or rhythm of heavy, slow footsteps.