めらめら

adverb

blazing; flaring; burning fiercely

1. blazing; flaring; burning fiercely

Describes flames burning intensely with visible flickering.

炎(ほのお)がめらめらと燃(も)えている。

The flames are blazing fiercely.

めらめらと炎(ほのお)が上(あ)がった。

Flames blazed up.

焚(た)き火(び)がめらめらと燃(も)えている。

The bonfire is burning fiercely.

2. burning (emotions)

Intense emotions like anger or jealousy rising up.

闘志(とうし)がめらめらと燃(も)え上(あ)がる。

Fighting spirit is burning fiercely.

Figurative usage

嫉妬(しっと)の炎(ほのお)がめらめらと燃(も)える。

The flames of jealousy burn fiercely.

Figurative usage

闘志(とうし)がめらめらと燃(も)え上(あ)がった。

My fighting spirit blazed up.

めらめら is a 擬態語(ぎたいご) (mimetic word) that vividly describes actively burning flames — visible, licking tongues of fire. Also commonly used metaphorically for intense emotions.

LITERAL USE (fire):

めらめら燃(も)える: to blaze, to burn fiercely
めらめらと燃(も)え上(あ)がる: to flare up
炎(ほのお)がめらめらと上(あ)がる: flames rise fiercely

FIGURATIVE USE (emotions):

闘志(とうし)がめらめらと燃(も)える: fighting spirit blazes
嫉妬(しっと)の炎(ほのお)がめらめら: flames of jealousy burning
怒(いか)りがめらめらと込(こ)み上(あ)げる: anger surges up fiercely

FIRE MIMETIC WORDS (intensity scale):

ちろちろ: flickering weakly (small flame)
めらめら: blazing visibly (active flames)
ぼうぼう: burning fiercely (large fire)
ごうごう: roaring (intense, large fire)

Related Words

Related: ちろちろ (flickering (small flame))

Related: ぼうぼう (burning fiercely (large fire))

Related: ごうごう (roaring (intense fire))

Related: 燃(も)える (to burn)

general

Added 2026.1.16 14:48 · Revised 2026.6.6 5:06

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