ひやひや

ひやひや
adverb
nervously; anxiously; on edge
1. nervously; anxiously; on edge
Feeling nervous or anxious while watching something dangerous or uncertain.
試合(しあい)を見(み)ながらひやひやした。
I watched the match nervously.
ひやひやする場面(ばめん)が多(おお)かった。
There were many nerve-wracking scenes.
ひやひやする場面(ばめん)だった。
It was a nerve-wracking scene.
2. feeling chilly
A cool or slightly cold sensation.
ひやひやした風(かぜ)が吹(ふ)いている。
A chilly wind is blowing.
冷(つめ)たい風(かぜ)でひやひやする。
The cold wind makes me feel chilly.
汗(あせ)がひやひやと乾(かわ)いていく。
The sweat cools and dries on my skin.

An onomatopoeic adverb with two senses: nervous anxiety (sense 1) and a chilly sensation (sense 2). Sense 1 is far more common.

SENSE 1 (anxiety):
Describes the feeling of watching something risky or uncertain unfold, where you fear a bad outcome. Used with する.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • ひやひやする: to feel nervous/anxious
  • ひやひやしながら見(み)る: to watch nervously
  • ひやひやさせる: to make someone nervous

SIMILAR WORDS:

SENSE 2 (chilly):
Describes a cool or slightly cold sensation on the skin. Less common in everyday speech.

Related Words

Synonym: はらはら (anxiously watching)
Related: どきどき (heart pounding)
Related: びくびく (fearful, timid)
general
Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.6.6 5:06
05000/05374_hiyahiya