ひやひや

ひ

や

ひ

や

JLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

ひやひやする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Meanings

feel chilly; feel a chill

usually written using kana alone

Describes a physical sensation of coldness, often from weather or a cold object. Can be used adverbially with する or と.

usually written using kana alone

Describes a mental state of worry, fear, or nervousness, often about an uncertain outcome. Commonly used with する.

〈事こと〉にひやひやするto feel nervous/anxious about something
試し験けんの結けっ果かにひやひやした。
I was nervous about the exam results.
〈人ひと〉をひやひやさせるto make someone nervous/anxious
彼かれの運うん転てんはいつも私わたしをひやひやさせる。
His driving always makes me nervous.
ひやひやしながら〈動どう詞し〉to do something while feeling anxious/on edge
冷ひや冷ひやしながら結けっ果かを待まった。
I waited for the result, feeling anxious the whole time.

ハラハラN2sense 2
はらはら describes anxious worry while watching someone else's risky or precarious situation, whereas 冷や冷や(ひやひや) describes one's own nervous, cold-sweat feeling about an uncertain outcome.
冷つめたいN5sense 1
冷たい is a general adjective for something cold to the touch or emotionally distant, while 冷や冷や(ひやひや) describes the subjective sensation of feeling a sudden chill.
ドキドキN3sense 2
どきどき focuses on a pounding heartbeat from excitement or nervousness, while 冷や冷や(ひやひや) emphasizes a chilly, on-edge feeling of anxiety about how things will turn out.

安あん心しんN4sense 2
安心 means to feel relieved and at ease, the opposite of the anxious, on-edge feeling expressed by 冷や冷や(ひやひや).

ひんやりN2
ひやひや sounds similar to ひんやり but describes feeling nervous or anxious, not physical coolness.

ひやひやUsage37%
Usually written in kana. The kanji form 冷や冷や exists but is less common.
ヒヤヒヤUsage50%
kana-only spelling
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.
冷ひや冷ひやUsage14%
Kanji spelling; rarely used in practice.

Reduplication of ひや, a mimetic root for coldness. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is a native Japanese onomatopoeic/mimetic word.