ふっくら

ふ

っ

く

ら

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

soft and full; plump; fluffy

Describes something pleasantly soft, swollen, or full in shape, such as bread, cheeks, or cushions. Often used with と or した.

〈物もの〉がふっくらするfor something to become soft and full/puffy
焼やきたてのパンがふっくらしている。
The freshly baked bread is soft and fluffy.
ふっくらとした〈物もの〉a plump, soft-looking (thing)
赤あかちゃんのふっくらとした頬ほほがかわいい。
The baby's plump cheeks are adorable.
〈物もの〉がふっくら炊たき上あがるfor rice/grains to cook up fluffy
このお米こめはふっくら炊たき上あがる。
This rice cooks up nice and fluffy.

ふっくり
ふっくり is a less common variant of ふっくら, both describing something pleasantly soft and full in shape.
ふわふわN2
ふわふわ emphasizes light, airy softness (like a cloud or fresh towel), while ふっくら emphasizes a rounded, full shape (like a plump cheek or risen bread).
ぷっくり
ぷっくり describes a small, cute swelling or puffiness, whereas ふっくら describes a broader, softer fullness.
丸まる々まるN1
ふっくら emphasizes a soft, airy plumpness (often used for cheeks, bread, or rice), whereas 丸々 stresses overall roundness and fullness of shape.

ぺったんこ
ぺちゃんこ describes something flattened or squashed, the opposite of the soft, puffed-up fullness of ふっくら.

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it is related to the sound-symbolic root ふく- suggesting swelling or softness.