よちふらよろ – Onomatopoeias for Staggering in Japanese
In Japanese, there are several onomatopoeias for walking and other types of movement. Especially for staggering and sluggish walking.
INDEX
よちよち is how Babies walk
This word is mostly used to explain how a toddler walks. How a baby waddles or totters around like they are going to fall down.
赤ちゃんがよちよち歩いている
The baby is toddling as they walk
よちよち means they are walking in a manner that is slow and unsteady.
https://japaneseuniverse.com/2024/02/18/pac-man-in-japaneseconcepts-behind-development-to-global-icon/ふらふら is how Drunk People Walk
If you want to talk about drunk people Japanese has a word for you.
酔っ払いがふらふら歩く
The drunkard staggers
ふらふら is how drunk people walk around. It is also used to mean dizzy.
頭がふらふらする
My head feels dizzy (I feel a little drunk)
よろよろ means Wobble around
よろよろ can be used whether someone is drunk or not. It could be used when someone is losing their balance.
つまづいてよろよろする
to trip and wobble around
よたよた means to Waddle
For a duck, you could say よたよた for how they waddle around.
アヒルがよたよた歩く
A duck waddles
Or if you are a person you could use よたよた when you are having trouble walking because you are tired, or walking through the snow, drunk or whatever.
とぼとぼ means Wearily trudge along
とぼとぼ would mostly be used for a senior person slowly walking.
老人がとぼとぼ歩いている
The senior is walking wearily
It can also be used if you are just worn out, or don’t feel like walking.
If you are interested in learning more Japanese Onomatopoeias then check out some of my other posts.
Also, if you want to learn more Japanese I reviewed a dictionary of grammar series which I personally recommend and use myself.
