しくしく

しくしく

adverb

sobbing; whimpering; sniffling

1. sobbing; whimpering; sniffling

Crying softly with small sobs, often suppressing the sound.

子供(こども)がしくしく泣(な)いている。

The child is sobbing.

しくしくと涙(なみだ)を流(なが)す。

To shed tears while whimpering.

子供(こども)が一人(ひとり)でしくしく泣(な)いていた。

The child was sobbing alone.

2. aching dully

A mild, continuous ache (usually stomach).

胃(い)がしくしく痛(いた)む。

My stomach has a dull ache.

しくしくと胃(い)が痛(いた)む。

I have a dull ache in my stomach.

朝(あさ)からお腹(なか)がしくしく痛(いた)い。

I've had a dull stomachache since this morning.

しくしく is a 擬態語(ぎたいご)/擬音語(ぎおんご) (mimetic/onomatopoeic word) with two distinct meanings.

SENSE 1 — SOBBING:
Describes quiet, suppressed crying — not loud wailing but soft whimpering.

しくしく泣(な)く: to sob, to whimper
しくしくと涙(なみだ)を流(なが)す: to shed tears while sobbing

SENSE 2 — DULL ACHE:
Describes a mild, persistent, nagging pain, especially in the stomach.

胃(い)がしくしく痛(いた)む: to have a dull stomachache
お腹(なか)がしくしく痛(いた)い: to have a nagging stomachache

SIMILAR CRYING WORDS (intensity scale):

しくしく: quiet sobbing (soft, suppressed)
めそめそ: weeping weakly (slightly pathetic nuance)
えんえん: crying continuously
わんわん: bawling loudly
号泣(ごうきゅう)する: to wail, to cry one's eyes out

Related Words

Related: めそめそ (weeping weakly)

Related: わんわん (bawling loudly)

Related: 号泣(ごうきゅう) (wailing, crying out)

Compare: 延々(えんえん) (crying continuously)

Compare: きりきり (sharp pain)

general

Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

05000/05373_shikushiku