ぶらぶら

ぶらぶら
adverb
dangling; wandering aimlessly; idling
1. dangling; swinging
Describes something hanging loosely and swinging back and forth.
足(あし)をぶらぶらさせる。
To dangle one's legs.
鍵(かぎ)がぶらぶらと揺(ゆ)れている。
The keys are swinging back and forth.
椅子(いす)に座(すわ)って足(あし)をぶらぶらさせながら待(ま)っていた。
I sat in the chair, dangling my feet while waiting.
2. wandering aimlessly; strolling
Describes walking around without a specific destination or purpose.
町(まち)をぶらぶら歩(ある)く。
To stroll around town.
休(やす)みの日(ひ)に公園(こうえん)をぶらぶらした。
I strolled around the park on my day off.
旅行先(りょこうさき)で知(し)らない通(とお)りをぶらぶら歩(ある)くのが好(す)きだ。
I like strolling down unfamiliar streets when I travel.
3. idling; being idle
Describes not having steady work or being unemployed.
仕事(しごと)もせずにぶらぶらしている。
He's just idling around without a job.
Slightly negative connotation
大学(だいがく)を卒業(そつぎょう)してからぶらぶらしている。
He's been idle since graduating from university.
いつまでもぶらぶらしていないで、早(はや)く仕事(しごと)を探(さが)しなさい。
Stop idling around forever and find a job already.

ぶらぶら is a 擬態語(ぎたいご) (mimetic word) with two core meanings: dangling/swinging, and wandering aimlessly.

DANGLING/SWINGING:

WANDERING/IDLING:

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • ぶらぶら: wandering aimlessly / dangling (relaxed)
  • うろうろ: wandering restlessly (slightly anxious)
  • ふらふら: staggering, dizzy, drifting (unsteady)
  • のんびり: leisurely, at ease (positive, calm)

NOTE:
ぶらぶらする with no specific destination implies having nothing to do or being idle. Can have a slightly negative connotation (wasting time) depending on context.

Related Words

Related: うろうろ (wandering restlessly)
Related: ふらふら (staggering, drifting)
Related: のんびり (leisurely, at ease)
general
Added 2026.1.16 12:17 · Revised 2026.6.5 3:09
05000/05167_burabura