躍やっ起き

や

っ

き

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Describes a state of intense, often single-minded effort or excitement, typically in the phrase 躍起になる. Can be positive (eager) or negative (desperate, worked up).

彼かれは試し験けんに合ごう格かくしようと躍やっ起きになっている。
He is desperate to pass the exam.
社しゃ員いんたちは新しん製せい品ひんの開かい発はつに躍やっ起きだ。
The employees are eagerly working on the development of the new product.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉に躍やっ起きになるto become desperate/frantically eager about something
彼かれは成せい績せきを上あげようと躍やっ起きになっている。
He is desperately trying to improve his grades.
躍やっ起きになって〈動どう詞し〉to do something frantically/desperately
社しゃ員いんたちは売うり上あげを伸のばそうと躍やっ起きになって働はたらいた。
The employees worked frantically to increase sales.

Kanji

躍leap, dance, skip
起rouse, wake up, get up

Related words

必ひっ死しN3
必死 suggests life-or-death, serious desperation, while 躍起 can describe a lighter, sometimes excited eagerness as well as frantic effort.
懸けん命めい
懸命 describes doing one's best with steady, dedicated effort, whereas 躍起 carries a more worked-up, frantic or excitable nuance.
熱ねっ心しんN4
熱心 means keen and enthusiastic in a calm, positive sense, while 躍起 implies a more agitated, single-minded intensity that can look desperate.

Opposites

冷れい静せいN3
冷静 means calm and composed, the opposite of the frantic, worked-up state described by 躍起.

Written forms

躍やっ起きUsage67%
Standard kanji spelling; the only form given.
やっきUsage31%
ヤッキUsage2%

Etymology

The kanji 躍 (leap, dance) and 起 (rise, get up) combine to suggest a state of being roused to action, figuratively 'leaping up' in eagerness or desperation. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.