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とぼとぼ (tobotobo) Japanese meaning: trudging | Kotomora

とぼとぼ

と

ぼ

と

ぼ

JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

trudging; plodding; walking slowly with heavy steps

onomatopoeic or mimetic word›

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

彼かれは疲つかれた様よう子す

で

とぼとぼ

と

歩ある

い

て

い

た

。

He was trudging along, looking tired.

試し合あいに負まけて、選せん手しゅたちはとぼとぼと引ひき揚あげた。

After losing the match, the players plodded off the field.

Usage patterns

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.

Related words

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.

Opposites

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.

Don't confuse with

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.

Written forms

とぼとぼUsage62%
Standard hiragana spelling for this mimetic adverb.
トボトボUsage38%
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.

Etymology

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